I wanted to determine how many minerals are "collectable" by my standards - that is, I can see nice crystals in a microscope without squinting too hard.

Conclusion - only 60% of known minerals qualify.

Comments:
Some minerals, such as purpurite, do not occur in crystals, but can also be considered collectable as they occur in nice hand-sized specimens, but I did not breakdown the "V" catagory for this possibility. "M" minerals require a high magnification optical microscope or a electron microscope in order to observe them. Most "U" minerals are new or recent, and so have not had abstracts or descriptions published.

By and large, older (DANA) minerals are more likely to be well crystallized, as reflected in that fact that almost all of them with IMA "G" status are classified as either V or X in quality, with almost 80% X. Only 50% of newer minerals, discovered in the last 50 years or so, since the IMA started approving new mineral names, are crystallized. This is clearly a reflection on our ability to find and document smaller and smaller mineral grains.



Grandfathered minerals – 27.9%
of these
X – 78.6 %
V – 20.9 %
M – 0.4 %
U – 0.1 %

Minerals with approved status - 65.0%
of these:
X – 51.0 %
V – 39.4 %
M – 5.4 %
U – 4.2 %

All minerals, including grandfathered, approved, redefined
X – 60.0 %
V – 33.4 %
M – 3.7 %
U – 2.9%

Definitions:
X - crystallized – reported to be found in crystals at least 0.03 cm
V - visible – reported to found in grains of at least 0.01 cm
M - microscopic – not crystallized or visible
U – unknown – not report found

---

In order to leave comments to this blog post, you must be registered