Founded in 1958, the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) is an international group of 40 national societies. The goal is to promote the science of mineralogy and to standardize the nomenclature of the 5000 plus known mineral species. The IMA is affiliated with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). The Association supports the activities of Commissions and Working Groups involved on certain aspects of mineralogical practice and facilitates interactions among mineralogists by sponsoring and organising meetings. In particular, the IMA holds its general meeting every four years. The last meeting was scheduled in 2022 in Lyon, France.
Presidents The presidents of the IMA have been:
since 2024: Eiji Ohtani Tohoku University 2022–2024: Hans-Peter Schertl Bochum University 2020–2022: Anhuai Lu Peking University 2018–2020: Patrick Cordier Université de Lille 2016–2018: Peter C. Burns University of Notre Dame 2014–2016: Sergey V. Krivovichev Saint Petersburg State University 2012–2014: Walter V. Maresch Ruhr University Bochum 2010–2012: Ekkehart Tillmanns Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, University of Vienna Mineral: tillmannsite (IMA2001-010) 2006–2010: Takamitsu Yamanaka Osaka University 2002–2006: Ian Parsons University of Edinburgh 1998–2002: Anthony (Tony) J. Naldrett University of Toronto Mineral: naldrettite (IMA2004-007) 1994–1998: Stefano Merlino University of Pisa Mineral: merlinoite (IMA1976-046) 1990–1994: Xiande Xie Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (Chinese Academy of Sciences) Mineral: xieite (IMA2007-056) 1986–1990: Peter John Wyllie California Institute of Technology (after 1984, Caltech) and University of Chicago (1965–1983) Mineral: wyllieite (IMA1972-015) 1982–1986: Ivan Kostov (Nikolov) (1913–2004) Sofia University and National Museum of Natural History (1974-1989) Mineral: kostovite (IMA1965-002) 1978–1982: Claude (Jean Guy) Guillemin (1923–1994) École des Mines de Paris (Mines ParisTech) Mineral: guilleminite (IMA1964-031) 1974–1978: Vladimir Stepanovich Sobolev (1908–1982) Novosibirsk State University Mineral: sobolevite (IMA1982-042) 1970–1974: Karl Hugo Strunz (1910–2006) Technische Universität Berlin Mineral: strunzite (1958) 1964–1970: Cecil Edgar Tilley (1894–1973) University of Cambridge (England) Mineral: tilleyite (1933) 1960–1964: Daniel Jerome Fisher (1896–1988) University of Chicago Mineral: djerfisherite (IMA1965-028) 1958–1960: Robert Lüling Parker (1893–1973) Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and University of Zurich Mineral: parkerite (1937)
Medal The IMA Medal for Excellence in Mineralogical Research was created in 2006. It is awarded for scientific excellence and eminence as represented by long-term outstanding scientific publication in the field of mineralogical sciences. It is one of the pre-eminent awards in mineralogical research and represents a life-time achievement award.
Medalists 2023 - Tetsuo Irifune 2022 - Patricia Dove 2021 - Robert Hazen 2020 - Georges Calas 2019 - Eiji Ohtani 2018 - Gordon E. Brown, Jr. 2017 - Emil Makovicky 2015 - Rod C. Ewing 2013 - Nikolay V. Sobolev 2011 - David H. Green 2009 - Frank C. Hawthorne 2008 - Charles Prewitt
Working groups and commissions The most active IMA commission is the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (CNMMN). It was founded in 1959 to coordinate the assigning of new mineral names, revision of existing names and discreditation of invalid species. Traditionally, the validation procedure of new minerals is one of the chairman's tasks and the discreditation or revalidation procedure of invalid species are two of the vice-chairman's tasks. In July 2006 a merger between the CNMMN and the Commission on Classification of Minerals (CCM), initiated at the request of both commissions, resulted in the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC).
Chairmen of CNMNC Ferdinando Bosi (since mid-2022) Ritsuro Miyawaki (2018-2022) Ulf Hålenius (2015-2018); (since c. 2015); mineral: håleniusite-(La) (IMA 2003-028) Peter (Pete) A. Williams (2008 – 2014); mineral: petewilliamsite (IMA 2002-059) Frédéric Hatert, vice-chairman (changes in existing nomenclature) Marco Pasero, vice-chairman (general classification matters) Ernst A. J. Burke (2003 – August, 2008); mineral: ernstburkeite (IMA 2010-059) Giovanni Ferraris, vice-chairman Joel Denison Grice (1995 – 2002); mineral: griceite (IMA 1986-043) Joseph (Joe) Anthony Mandarino (1983 – 1994); mineral: mandarinoite (IMA 1977-049) Ernest (Ernie) H. Nickel, vice-chairman; mineral: ernienickelite (IMA 1993-002) Akira Kato (1975 – 1982); mineral: katoite (IMA 1982-080a) Michael (Mike) Fleischer (1959 – 1974); mineral: fleischerite (IMA 1962 s.p.) Max Hey, vice-chairman François Permingeat, secretary
Member societies Among the societies represented at the IMA are:
Associación Mineralogica Argentina Bulgarian Mineralogical Society Ceska geolicka spolecnost Croatian Mineralogical Association Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft Geological Society of Australia Geological Society of Greece, Committee of Economic Geology Mineralogy and Geochemistry Koninklijk Nederlands Geologisch Mijnbouwkundig Genootschap (Royal Geological and Mining Society of the Netherlands) Magyahoni Földtani Tarsulat (Hungarian Geological Society), Asvantyan-Geokémoai Szakosztally (Mineralogical and Geochemical Section) Mineralogical Association of Canada Mineralogical Association of South Africa Mineralogical Society of America Mineralogical Society of Denmark Mineralogical Society of Georgia Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland Mineralogical Society of India Mineralogical Society of Japan Mineralogical Society of Korea Mineralogical Society of Romania Mineralogical Society of Slovakia Mineralogical Society of Uzbekistan Norsk Geologisk Forening, Mineralogisk Gruppe New Zealand Geochemical and Mineralogical Society Österreichische Mineralogische Gesellschaft Polskie Towarzystwo Mineralogiczne Russian Mineralogical Society Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Gesellschaft Slovenian Geological Society, Mineralogical Branch Sociedad Española de Mineralogía Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia Sociedade Geologica de Portugal, Grupo de Mineralogia Società Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia Société Française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie Suomen mineraloginen seura r.y The Chinese Society of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry The Mineralogical Society of Egypt The Swedish Mineralogical Society Ukrainian Mineralogical Association Union Minéralogique de Belgique
See also List of minerals recognized by the International Mineralogical Association List of minerals
References
External links IMA homepage IMA medal IMA - Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) IMA - Mineralogical Society of America