So I infer that the non Fe- and Na-dominant species with monoclinic structure will be defined as more new species? It seems very unfortunate that we are defining minerals that can only be confirmed with high resolution single crystal XRD. The tourmaline group is difficult enough already, and I guess this will spur the move to call them all "tourmaline" unless we do single crystal work. Its moving mineral identification out of the capacity of average mineralogists, let along petrologists and geologists. I doubt if there will be enough crystallographers around to handle the influx of people wanting their tourmalines re-identified.
Ralph
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2009 09:36AM by Ralph Bottrill.
