Bat Sh1t Crazy 😆

Mineral Matters #384

The latest IMA List of Minerals, July 2024, is published here. There are currently 6062 valid species.

Each update contains new minerals, refined chemical formulae, and other changes, all highlighted in yellow so easy to find. In addition, if there are any, species that get unapproved are marked in red.

One of this update’s new mineral species is manganonewberyite, the manganese analogue of newberyite.

Newberyite is a phosphate mineral formed through interactions between bat guano, microbes, ground water, and basalt and clay aluminosilicates, and first described from the Skipton Caves, Victoria, Australia. Manganonewberyite is reported from the Cassagna Mine, Ne, Italy.

Let’s compare the formulae of the two species:

• Newberyite: Mg(PO₃OH)·3H₂O

• Manganonewberyite: Mn(PO₃OH)(H₂O)₃

Analysis of newberyite from the Type Locality showed small amounts of manganese, and also iron. Is it possible that there could be an Fe analogue out there somewhere?

And what is it with this naming IMA? Why “mangano”? Why not newberyite-(Mn), with the original one redefined as newberyite-(Mg)? When are you going to be consistent? 😣

In case you have forgotten, think back to the axinite naming debacle!

Below: Newberyite, Skipton Lava Caves. Museum Victoria specimen. The label is about 75mm wide.