The challenge of the identification of a new mineral species: example “Pezzottaite”

Peretti A,¹ Armbruster T,² Günther D,³ Grobéty B,⁴ Hawthorne FC,⁵ Cooper MA,⁵ Simmons WB,⁶ Falster AU,⁶ Rossman GR,⁷ Laurs BM,⁸

(1) GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG, Hirschmattstr. 6, P.O. Box 4028, CH-6003 Lucerne, Switzerland
(2) Chem. Miner. Kristallogr., University of Berne, Freiestr. 3, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland
(3) Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, ETH Hönggerberg, HCI, G113, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
(4) Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Pérolles, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
(5) Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
(6) Geology & Geophysics, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, LA 70148, USA
(7) Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125-2500, USA
(8) Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA

Abstract

An illustrated report is presented on the combined efforts of teams of investigators to characterize the newly approved mineral, pezzottaite.  This mineral was characterized by physical properties, optical properties, chemical analysis, structural analysis, and spectroscopic studies.

The complete article is available at the GRS website