"NAMED AMPHIBOLES": A NEW CATEGORY OF AMPHIBOLES RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MINERALOGICAL ASSOCIATION (IMA) AND A DEFINED SEQUENCE ORDER FOR THE USE OF PREFIXES IN AMPHIBOLE NAMES

Abstract

A new category of “named amphiboles” whose names can be published without previous approval by the IMA-CNMMN, is now recognized by the IMA-CNMMN, so long as the names agree with the IMA-CNMMN-approved system of amphibole nomenclature. Generally there will be only a chemical composition and monoclinic or orthorhombic symmetry known. These are not new amphibole species and the criteria for recognition by the IMA-CNMMN of new amphibole species remain unchanged. In addition, for the first time, the sequence order in which prefixes appear in amphibole names, whether in species or in “named amphiboles,” is defined and applies immediately.