Recently, “Wuyanzhiite”, a new mineral discovered and declared by Prof. Gu Xiangping from the School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, has been officially approved through voting and numbered IMA-2017-081 by Commission on New Minerals Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of International Mineralogical Association (IMA).
The newly discovered “Wuyanzhiite” is native to Bofang copper mine of Hunan Province and belongs to tetragonal system, with the crystallochemical formula of Cu2S, the cell parameters a0of 0.40008(1) nm and c0of 1.12671(9) nm. It is associated with sphalerite and paragenic with copper-bearing minerals such as chalcocite and bornite and formed under supergene conditions. Its discovery is of great indicative significance for deep mineral exploration in copper mine area.
The mineral was named to memorize the late Prof. Wu Yanzhi (1931 – 2014) of Central South University. Since graduated from Nanjing University in 1952, Prof. Wu Yanzhi had been working in Central-South Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, engaged in geological teaching and research for over 60 years and specialized in metallogenic theory and ore prediction. Having worked diligently and educated students with love, he was respected and beloved by teachers and students and peers at home and abroad.
(Characteristics of Wuyanzhiite-chalcocite specimen displayed under optical microscope)
Discovering new mineral is a basic research of the field of mineralogy and a hot research topic worldwide. It provides new scientific basis for people to perceive and utilize new minerals in the nature and technical support for synthesis and preparation of new materials, a mirror for the research strength and level of a scientific research institution to some extent. Commission on New Minerals Nomenclature and Classification of InternationalMineralogicalAssociation (IMA-CNMNC) is the unique international professional institute for approving new materials and their naming. This time, 21 mineralogists form different countries and regions voted by ballot for approval of new material application documents and the approval letter was issued by the president of IMA-CNMNC upon an affirmative vote of no less than two thirds. This is the third time a new material has been discovered after Chenguodaite and Ferrisepiolite by Prof. Gu Xiangping and approved. Prof. Gu Xiangping has also participated in exploration and research of Zincospiroffite, Strontiohurlbutite, Minjiangite, Lipuite, Taniajacoite, Meiranite, Wangdaodeite, Zhanghuifenite, Fupingqiuite, Mengxianmingite and Strontioruizite, making outstanding contributions to the discovery of new minerals and exerting an important influence in the field of mineralogy at both home and abroad.Now, Central South University has become one of the new mineral exploration and research centers.
Source: School of Geosciences and Info-Physics
