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Tom Mazanec
Joined: 11 Feb 2016
Posts: 139
Location: Twinsburg, Ohio
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Posted: Mar 19, 2017 11:52 Post subject: -ite and -lite |
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If the word a mineral is named after ends in a vowel, is the suffix -lite? For example, a mineral discovered on Hawaii would be named Hawaiilite, not Hawaiiite? |
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John S. White
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Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Posts: 1295
Location: Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted: Mar 19, 2017 13:31 Post subject: Re: -ite and -lite |
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No rules as far as I know. The describer can propose anything he or she wants, but the Commission may reject what is proposed for various reasons. When Paul Moore described whiteite he attempted to name it just white, as my name already ended in "ite." That was rejected. _________________ John S. White
aka Rondinaire |
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alfredo
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
Posts: 981
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Posted: Mar 19, 2017 16:00 Post subject: Re: -ite and -lite |
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It's up to the authors proposing a new name whether to end it in -ite or -lite. Names ending in vowels can go either way (matioliite, just to name a recent specimen I found, ends in a vowel but they named it with -ite). As John pointed out, the IMA can accept or reject the name, although they usually go with whatever the authors propose.
"Hawaiite" already exists as a rock name too. |
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Tobi
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Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 4112
Location: Germany
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Posted: Mar 19, 2017 17:06 Post subject: Re: -ite and -lite |
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Tom Mazanec wrote: | If the word a mineral is named after ends in a vowel, is the suffix -lite? For example, a mineral discovered on Hawaii would be named Hawaiilite, not Hawaiiite? | If there was such a rule, all the colourful tourmalines in the world would be elbalites instead of elbaites. Or just imagine beautiful red crocolites from Tazmania. You see, there's no such rule ;-) |
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Riccardo Modanesi
Joined: 07 Nov 2011
Posts: 620
Location: Milano
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Posted: Mar 20, 2017 05:04 Post subject: Re: -ite and -lite |
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As far as I know, the suffix "lite" comes from Greek "lythos" which means "stone". Locality names as well as surname names should end simply with "ite".
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo. _________________ Hi! I'm a collector of minerals since 1973 and a gemmologist. On Summer I always visit mines and quarries all over Europe looking for minerals! Ok, there is time to tell you much much more! Greetings from Italy by Riccardo. |
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Tom Mazanec
Joined: 11 Feb 2016
Posts: 139
Location: Twinsburg, Ohio
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Posted: Apr 02, 2017 07:21 Post subject: Is -ite mandatory? |
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Is there a requirement for new mineral names to end in -ite? I know "old time" names sometimes ended in other syllables, but all the recent ones seem to have the "standard" suffix. If a discoverer wanted to end the name some other way, could (s)he do it? |
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Peter Lemkin
Joined: 18 Nov 2016
Posts: 398
Location: Prague
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Posted: Apr 02, 2017 08:32 Post subject: Re: Is -ite mandatory? |
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Tom Mazanec wrote: | Is there a requirement for new mineral names to end in -ite? I know "old time" names sometimes ended in other syllables, but all the recent ones seem to have the "standard" suffix. If a discoverer wanted to end the name some other way, could (s)he do it? |
The 'old names' are 'grandfathered' in, but now there is an official mineral name approval body and rules. I believe the -ite ending is now mandatory. Each year about 50-60 new mineral species are officially approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association. |
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Tom Mazanec
Joined: 11 Feb 2016
Posts: 139
Location: Twinsburg, Ohio
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Posted: Apr 02, 2017 15:03 Post subject: Is -ite mandatory? |
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I know some "old time" mineral names ended in other syllables, but all the newer ones seem to end in -ite. Is this an official rule, or could the discoverer end the name in something else if (s)he wished?
(BTW, I thought I posted this earlier today but can't find it, so sorry if this is a repost). |
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Carles Millan
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Location: Catalonia
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alfredo
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
Posts: 981
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Posted: Apr 04, 2017 00:50 Post subject: Re: -ite and -lite |
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There are still occasional exceptions to the "-ite" rule in recent years. The relatively recent (2011) species "Anorpiment", for example, admittedly based on the older name "Orpiment". |
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