Minldent USERS' MANUAL

A FORTRAN 77 Program for Mineral Identification

D.G.W. Smith
D.P. Leibovitz

Last changed: 16 May 1986

Computing Services, University of Alberta

Disclaimer
This document is issued to describe our current services correctly. However, the
information may be made obsolete by future developments. Changes to the Minldent
program and documentation will be announced through a message when the Minldent
program is run.

Documentation
Most Computing Services documentation is available online on MTS:
run *gendoc

Comments and Suggestions

Although great care has been taken in compiling the Minldent data base, some errors
will undoubtedly have passed undetected. The owners would appreciate being advised of
any errors that are found, and receiving corrected data for incorporation in later
versions of Minldent. Any correspondence should be addressed to:
Professor D. G. W. Smith
Department of Geology
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada, T6G 2E3.
Telephone: (403) 432 -3955
Alternatively, messages can be sent to Minldent on the University of Alberta MTS
message system by entering $MES (and then SEND). The message system has its own
extensive online help/explain facility.
Your comments and suggestions will be a valuable aid to the improvement of the
Minldent program and documentation. Thank you.

Computing Services, University of Alberta, 1986.

11

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ............................................................................................................................... 1
Ident section ........................................................................................... 1
Help/Explain Facility ........................................................................... 1
Modify section ........................................................................................ 1
Updating the Data Base ........................................................................ 1
Mineral Data ..................................................................................... 2
Using this manual .................................................................................... 2
Introduction ...................................................................................... 2
Procedures ........................................................................................ 2
Data Types ....................................................................................... 2
Commands ........................................................................................ 2
Definitions ........................................................................................ 2
Sam pie Sessions .................................................................................. 2
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3
Purpose of MinIdent ................................................................................. 3
Users of MinIdent .................................................................................... 3
Compositionallnformation ......................................................................... 3
Calculated data ................................................................................... 4
ldentifying via Chemical Composition ....................................................... 5
Polymorphs ....................................................................................... 5
Classification System ................................................................................ 5
Groups. species. subspecies and varieties ................................................... 5
Common plagioclase minerals ................................................................. 6
New minerals ..................................................................................... 6
Additional data .................................................................................. 6
Mineral Parameters in MinIdent ................................................................... 7
Procedures for Using Minldent .................................................................................................. 8
How to Use MinIdent ................................................................................ 8
Easiest Method ........................................................................................ 8
Recommended Procedure ........................................................................... 8
Minimising Effects of Errors ...................................................................... 10
Data Types .......................................................................................................................... 11
Mineral data .......................................................................................... 11
Sam pie data ........................................................................................... 11
General data .......................................................................................... 11
Compiled data ........................................................................................ 11
Unknown data ....................................................................................... 12
Commands .......................................................................................................................... 15
Syntax Conventions ................................................................................. 15
I symbol ............................................................................................... 16
- symbol ............................................................................................... 16
# symbol ............................................................................................. 17
@ symbol ............................................................................................. 17
$ command ........................................................................................... 17
command ... " ............................ , ......................................................... 17
? synonym for help .................................................................................. 18
a parameter ........................................................................................... 18

iii

all parameter ... , .................. " ....... , .......... " .......... , . '" .............................. 18
alpha parameter ...................................................................................... 18
angles parameter ..................................................................................... 18
attention command .................................................................................. 18
attention key ......................................................................................... 19
average parameter ................................................................................... 19
b parameter ........................................................................................... 19
batch command ...................................................................................... 19
batchprint variable .................................................................................. 20
beta parameter ....................................................................................... 20
birefringence parameter ............................................................................ 20
break synonym for attention ...................................................................... 20
c parameter ........................................................................................... 21
c(alpha) synonym for colour(alpha) ............................................................ 21
c(beta) synonym for colour(beta) ............................................................... 21
c(epsilon) synonym for colour(epsilon) ........................................................ 21
c(gamma) synonym for colour(gamma) ........................................................ 21
c(omega) synonym for colour(omega) .......................................................... 21
calpha synonym for colour(alpha) ............................................................... 21
case variable .......................................................................................... 21
cbeta synonym for colour(beta) .................................................................. 22
cepsilon synonym for colour(epsilon) ........................................................... 22
cgamma synonym for colour(gamma) .......................................................... 22
classify parameter ................................................................................... 22
cm parameter ......................................................................................... 23
color synonym for colour .......................................................................... 23
color(alpha) synonym for colour(alpha) ....................................................... 23
color(beta) synonym for colour(beta) .......................................................... 23
color(epsilon) synonym for colour(epsilon) ................................................... 23
color(gamma) synonym for colour(gamma) ................................................... 23
color(omega) synonym for colour(omega) ..................................................... 23
colors synonym f or colours ........................................................................ 23
colour parameter .................................................................................. , .23
colours parameter ................................................................................... 24
colour(alpha) parameter ........................................................................... 24
colour(beta) parameter ............................................................................ 24
colour( epsilon) parameter ......................................................................... 24
colour(gamma) parameter ......................................................................... 25
colour( omega) parameter .......................................................................... 25
comega synonym for colour(omega) ............................................................ 25
continue command .................................................................................. 25
coordination parameter ............................................................................. 25
crd synonym for coordination ..................................................................... 26
cutoff variable ....................................................................................... 26
d-value parameter ................................................................................... 26
data parameter ....................................................................................... 26
date parameter ....................................................................................... 26
default parameter .................................................................................... 27
density parameter .................................................................................... 27
dichroism parameter ................................................................................ 27
dimensions parameter ............................................................................... 27
dispersion parameter ................................................................................ 27
display command .................................................................................... 28
divisions parameter .................................................................................. 28
iv

dvalues synonym for d-values .................................................................... 28

EDATA2 command ................................................................................. 28
edges parameter ...................................................................................... 29
elist command ........................................................................................ 29
epsilon synonym for n(epsilon) .................................................................. 29
exit synonym for stop ............................................................................... 29
explain synonym for help .......................................................................... 29
formula parameter .................................................................................. 29
gamma parameter ................................................................................... 29
help command ........................................................................................ 29
identifier parameter ................................................................................. 30
identify command ................................................................................... 30
IM parameter ......................................................................................... 30
indices parameter .................................................................................... 31
JCPDS parameter .................................................................................... 31
level parameter ....................................................................................... 31
length parameter ..................................... _............................................... 31
list command ......................................................................................... 31
locality parameter ................................................................................... 32
location synonym for locality ..................................................................... 32
match command ..................................................................................... 32
maximum parameter ................................................................................ 32
minimum parameter ................................................................................ 32
mohs parameter ...................................................................................... 33
n parameter ........................................................................................... 33
n(alpha) parameter ................................................................................. 33
n(beta) parameter ................................................................................... 33
n ( epsilon) parameter ............................................................................... 34
n(gamma) parameter ............................................................................... 34
n(omega) parameter ................................................................................ 34
nalpha synonym for n(alpha) ..................................................................... 34
name parameter ...................................................................................... 35
nbeta synonym for n(beta) ........................................................................ 35
nepsilon synonym for n(epsilon) ................................................................. 35
ngamma synonym for n(gamma) ................................................................ 35
nomega synonym for n(omega) .................................................................. 35
null value .............................................................................................. 35
number parameter ................................................................................... 35
OAP parameter ...................................................................................... 35
occurrence parameter ............................................................................... 36
of parameter .......................................................................................... 36
omega synonym for n(omega) .................................................................... 36
OPM parameter of table ........................................................................... 36
output variable ....................................................................................... 36
pbase synonym for proportion-basis ............................................................ 37
pbasis synonym for proportion-basis ............................................................ 37
pleochroism parameter ............................................................................. 37
polymorphs parameter .............................................................................. 37
proportion -basis parameter ....................................................................... 37
proportion-sum parameter ........................................................................ 37
psum synonym for proportion-sum .............................................................. 37
quit synonym for stop .............................................................................. 38
r( 470) synonym for reflectance( 470nm) ........................................................ 38
r(546) synonym for reflectance(546nm) ........................................................ 38

r(589) synonym for reflectance(589nm) ........................................................ 38

r( 650) synonym f or reflectance( 650nm) ........................................................ 38
record parameter ........................................... " ....................................... 38
records command .................................................................................... 38
reflectance parameter ............................................................................... 38
reflectance( 470nm) parameter .................................................................... 38
reflectance(546nm) parameter .................................................................... 39
reflectance(589nm) parameter .................................................................... 39
reflectance( 650nm) parameter .................................................................... 39
refraction parameter ................................................................................ 40
request variable ...................................................................................... 40
remarks parameter .................................................................................. 40
rfl synonym for reflectances ....................................................................... 40
rfr synonym for refractions ....................................................................... 41
r470nm synonym for reflectance( 470nm) ..................................................... .41
r546nm synonym for reflectance(546nm) ..................................................... .41
r589nm synonym for reflectance(589nm) ...................................................... 41
r650nm synonym for reflectance(650nm) ..................................................... .41
save command ........................................................................................ 41
sign parameter ....................................................................................... 41
source parameter .................................................................................... 41
space-group parameter ............................................................................. 42
spcgrp synonym for space-group ................................................................ .42
status command ...................................................................................... 42
stop command ........................................................................................ 42
subset command ..................................................................................... 42
subset parameter ..................................................................................... 43
sum parameter ....................................................................................... 43
symmetry parameter ................................................................................ 43
table synonym for tabulate ........................................................................ 43
tabulate command ................................................................................... 43
time synonym for date .............................................................................. 45
tlist command ........................................................................................ 45
tm parameter ......................................................................................... 45
tree command ........................................................................................ 46
type parameter ....................................................................................... 46
unknown command .................................................. : .............................. 46
unknown parameter ................................................................................. 47
unload variable ....................................................................................... 47
VHN parameter ...................................................................................... 47
weight parameters ................................................................................... 47
year -first -described parameter ................................................................... .48
YPD synonym for year-first-described ......................................................... 48
2V - synonym for 2V(alpha) ...................................................................... 48
2V(alpha) parameter ............................................................................... 48
2V(gamma) parameter ............................................................................. 49
2V + synonym for 2V(gamma) ................................................................... 49
2Valpha synonym for 2V(alpha) ................................................................. 49
2Vgamma synonym for 2V(gamma) ............................................................ .49
2VX synonym for 2V(alpha) ...................................................................... 49
2VZ synonym for 2V(gamma) .................................................................... 49
Definitions .......................................................................................................................... 50
angle entry ............................................................................................ 50

vi

ba tch file .............................................................................................. 50

colour entry ........................................................................................... 50
command .............................................................................................. 51
continuation of long lines .......................................................................... 51
defaults ................................................................................................ 52
development charges ................................................................................ 52
editing data ........................................................................................... 52
mineral ................................................................................................ 52
mineral data .......................................................................................... 52
MTS .................................................................................................... 53
precision ............................................................................................... 53
range ................................................................................................... 53
requests ................................................................................................ 53
set.min file ............................................................................................ 54
synonyms ............................................................................................. 54
variables ............................................................................................... 54

SampIe Sessions .................................................................................................................... 55

display command .................................................................................... 57
identify command ................................................................................... 59
match command ..................................................................................... 61
match d-values .................................................................................. 62
match to find Be bearing minerals ........................................................... 64
table command ....................................................................................... 66
unknown command - request=on ............................................................... 68

References .......................................................................................................................... 72
Appendix ............................................................................................................................ 74

vii

PREFACE

Minldent has been divided into two distinct sections: the modify section and the ident
section. Each supports a subset of all commands available to Minldent. To reflect these
two sections, Minldent documentation is separated into a reference manual and a users'
manual.

Users 's Manual

Ident section

Most users of the Minldent package will be auempting to identify minerals and display
results. The ident section of the package allows users to do this and is the most often
used section of Minldent. This manual describes this ident seetion in detail; copies can
be genera ted through the GENDOC program by issuing the following commands:
run II<gendoc
produce minident on printll<
Help/ Explain Facility

Minldent commands and other forms of input can be ente red in a variety of ways
convenient for the user. However, there will be occasions when Minldent cannot
interpret instructions. Thus, an extensive help/explain facility has been induded (see the
"help" command). With this feature, Minldent becomes an easily used tool. This
manual is therefore not necessary reading; however, it will simplify the use of Minldent
and will make understanding it much easier.

Reference Manual

Modify section

The modify section is used to modify Minldent's data base. This section does not
concern most users and will not be explained further in this manual. Details of its use
can, however, be found in the more extensive Minldent Reference Manual, which may
be obtained by contacting Professor D.G.W. Smith at the Department of Geology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3; telephone
(403) 432-3955.
Updating the Data Base

At the present time, the da ta base is far from complete. Indeed, completion would
require incorporation of all reliable analytical da ta available for minerals - a task which
stretch es into the distant future and wh ich may never be completed. However, the data
base will be updated whenever possible.

Preface

Mineral Data

The heart of the Minident package is the da ta base, which has data stored for about
4000 mineral groups, species and varieties. These data are used to identify "unknown"
minerals. The data have been compiled from many literature sources. In particular, da ta
have been incorporated from Deer et al. (1962, 1978, 1982), Dietrich (1969), Embrey &
Fuller (1980), Fleischer (1983), Fleischer et al (1984), Hey (1962, 1963), Pierrot
(1979), Roberts et al. (1974) and Uytenbogaardt & Burke (1971) with optical data
being augmented with information from Trger (1979), Winchell (1956) and Winchell
& Winchell (1951). Reflectances and microindentation hardnesses are largely based on
the data compiled by Henry (1977). X -ray data have been based on the information
given in the JCPDS Manual for 1984. All new minerals reported in the American
Mineralogist since 1966 have been incorporated, and Mineralogical Abstracts has been
used to track down additional information far many minerals.

Users' Manual

Using this manual

This Users' Manual describes how to use the ident section of Minldent on MTS to
identify minerals. Following is a brief summary of the manual 's organization:
I ntroduction

This section is an overview of Minldent.

Procedures

This section outlines the recommended procedures for using the Minldent program.
Data Types

This section describes the five types of data in the data base: mineral, sampie, general,
compiled and unknown data. It also describes identification using unknown data.
Commands

This section is an alphabetic reference list of all Minldent commands, inc1uding syntax
and semantics, parameters and synonyms.
Definitions

This section defines some of the Minldent terms.

Sampie Sessions

This section illustrates sam pIes of Minldent procedures.

Preface

INTRODUCTION

Purpose

Purpose of Minldent
MinIdent is an interactive mineral identification program, written in FORTRAN 77,
that enables a search of the MinIdent data base to identify and classify minerals and
display the results. Data have been stored for nearly 4000 mineral groups, species and
varieties, and these are used to identify "unknown" minerals.
In some cases, mineral identification can be made on the basis of hand specimen
properties, but in most instances, they are based on the optical properties of minerals
viewed beneath the petrographie or metallographie microscope, or alternatively, on
X-ray diffraction characteristics. From the time that blow-pipe analysis fell into disuse
until the advent of the the electron microprobe, chemical composition was seldom used
as the basis for, or even as an aid to, the identifieation of minerals: X -ray florescence
analysis required too much sampie and extremely clean mineral separation, and was too
time consuming and not always particularly accurate. Wet chemical analysis suffered
from all of the same disadvantages, except perhaps the last.
However, advances in electron mieroprobe analysis, particularly the advent of
quantitative energy dispersive methods, have permitted reliable compositional data to be
collected quickly and conveniently. In a matter of a few minutes, data can be gathered
and processed and a composition obtained. In many instances, the analysis may be
carried out on weil identified phases for other purposes. However, where identities are
not obvious, appreciable time can be spent in attempting to match chemical
characteristics with those of known minerals. It is in response to this situation that the
program MinIdent was conceived and written.
An additional feature of this program is its facility for generating a list of possible
identities in ranked order. Such a facility can either serve to bring to the attention of the
investigator other possibilities wh ich may not have been considered, or it may in certain
instances reveal errors or inaccuracies in the analyticallinvestigative procedure itself. In
this sense, MinIdent augments even the most experienced investigator.

Users

Users of MinIdent
Identification of minerals is one of the fundamental tasks for those engaged in all areas
of petrology and mineralogy as weil as in many related disciplines.

Mineral
Compositon

Compositional Information
Minerals can be divided crudely into two groups:

1. Common minerals whieh are easily identified, and for which there are many
analytical data in the literature.
2. Uncommon or rare minerals, whieh form the vast majority of minerals. Generally,
there are very few analytieal da ta available for them in the literature.

Introduction

Any program that attempts to utilise chemical composition as a basis of identification

must face this situation. Thus, Minldent uses two types of compositional information:

1. Literature data: information based on literature analyses.

2. Calculated data: information that is calculated on the basis of the structural
formula speeified when the data base was constructed.
Unknowns are matched against these compositional data, using literature data for
preference, but when these are not available, using the calculated data.
Calculated data

Determining the composition from a structural formula involves the calculation of

ranges of possible concentrations, for chemical substitutions are commonplace in
natural minerals. To eite a well known example, the common amphibole hornblende has
a composition which can be written as:
(Ca,Na,K)H(Mg,Fe 2+ ,Fe 3 + ,AI,Ti,Mn) sSi 6 (Si,AI)2022( OH,O,F,Cl)2
Clearly, this can represent considerable latitude in terms of the concentrations of
elements present; although in reality, the ranges will be less than the extremes calculated
by the program on the basis of complete substitution (Table 1). As a result of these
uncertainties, the composition determined for a particular sampie may lie within the
ranges calculated by the program for several different minerals. Given, therefore, that a
unique identification may not be possible on the basis of composition, a "matching
index" can be calculated for each possible match on the basis of the degree of overall
similarity between the chemical data for the various possible minerals and the unknown.
Table 1

Extreme concentration ranges calculated for hornblende

Element
Ca
Na
K
Mg
Fe
Al
Ti
Mn
Si
0
H
F
Cl

Introduction

Wt% low
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
16.13
33.62
0.00
0.00
0.00

Wt% high
14.17
8.65
13.88
15.71
29.97
23.99
26.85
29.63
28.95
49.61
0.26
4.87
8.72

I dentijying via Chemical Composition

When using Minldent to identify a mineral on the basis of chemical composition, data
can be entered in two ways:
1. Enter the weight percentages of the elements or oxides in the unknown.
2. Use the output from the EDA T A2 1 pro gram as input; in which case, the user does
not enter the data directly.
When the identijy procedure is used, Minldent will print the possible identities of the
mineral, followed by a measure of the likelihood of each identity being correcL
Misidenti {lcation
Sometimes an analysis may be made of an impure phase as a result
of poor analytical technique. When this happens and the data obtained are entered into
Minldent, a misidentification is possible. Although the probability given for the
identification will be low in most instances and, hence, cause the user to be suspicious,
in some instances, it may be possible to obtain, fortuitously, a good match.
Solution
The solution is to use better analytical techniques, and where there is cause
to believe that the analysis might be in error for some reason, to check by measuring
additional properties (e.g., the optical properties).
Polymorphs

Chemical composition alone is not always a sufficient basis for the identification of a
mineral. Thus several polymorphs may occur naturally (e.g., the silica minerals, the
aluminum silicates, the Ti -oxide minerals, etc.). When this is the case, each of the
possibilities is shown and will normally be given equal probability unless there are minor
chemical characteristics which suggest one polymorph or polytype is more probable than
another. In such cases, it will be necessary to turn to other characteristics, such as the
optical properties, paragenesis, etc., to make the correct choice from amongst the
possibilities listed.

Classification

Classification System
Groups, species, subspecies and varieties

A problem that arises in any attempt to construct a data base for mineral identification
is the distinction between mineral groups, species, subspecies and varieties.
Groups
The definition of the term "group" can vary substantially. For example, the
chain silicates, the zeolites and the garnets may alfbe referred to as mineral groups,
although there are much greater differences between the minerals included within one
group than within another. Since the members of all such groups are listed
independently, this does not cause much difficulty in constructing the data base.
However, the same cannot be said of the distinction between species, subspecies and
varieties.

A FR TRAN IV system f or processing energy Iwavelength dispersive microprobe da ta . It is available

from: MICRONEX Mineral Services Ltd., 4356 . 148 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6H 5V5.

Introduction

Species, subspecies and varieties

To use the example of the amphiboles again, clearly,
anthophyllite and glaucophane are to to be regarded as different species and deserve
separate entries. On the other hand, tremolite and actinolite form a solid solution series,
and intermediate compositions are possible. Each end member is included in the data
base and both may appear in a list of possible identities; one being more probable than
the other. On the other hand, the substitutions of certain elements such as F far
hydroxyl is regarded as giving rise to a VARIETY and a specific listing for the F variety
"fluorichterite" is included. Thus, where identification of a particular variety is made in
the literature, data are entered under varietal and species names, and both names may,
therefore, appear in a list of possible identities.
Common plagioclase minerals
Other difficulties exist in the case of the common plagioclase minerals. Traditionally,
these have been divided (arbitrarily) into six different compositional ranges with a
specific name applied to each (albite, oligoclase, andesine, labradorite, bytownite and
anorthite). MinIdent includes a listing f ar each of the traditional names as weH as a
listing for the plagioclase series. Thus, given a feldspar composition in the plagioclase
range, the pro gram will identify both "plagioclase" and at least one member of the series
amongst the list of most likely minerals. The same principle has been extended to other
solid solution series such as the olivines where forsterite, hortonolite, fayalite, etc., as
weH as olivine, are aHlisted. Similarly, a gamet will be identified both as belonging to
the group "gamet" and to a particular member of that group.

New minerals
OccasionaHy a genuinely new mineral may be encountered. When the chemical da ta for
such a mineral are entered, a number of possible identifications might be suggested but,
as in the case of poor analytical data, the probabilities indicated will normaHy be low
and will thus suggest that further investigation should be carried out. In other cases, a
much more direct indication of a new mineral may be given by the message "NO
MATCH FOUND."

Additional data
In constructing a data base the size of MinIdent, it was decided that other information
on minerals that might be of use in their identification should be included. In particular,
optical data have been included as weH as a certain amount of powder diffraction data
(the five strongest lines) , symmetry, indentation hardness (VHN), etc. The purpose of
such data is twofold:

1. They can be used to assist in identification.

2. When identification has been completed, they provide a useful summary of the
principal properties of the mineral.
Several areas of this additional part of the data base can be used in a stand -alone
capacity far identification; for example, the refractive indices and the powder
diffraction data, which are areas where da ta are complete for the vast majority of
mineral species.
Great care should be taken in the use of parameters such as reflectance in a
stand -alone capacity because there are large areas where data are missing or of little
diagnostic value; and as a result, when minerals of low probability are the only ones
listed, a misidentification might result. Such data can, however, be used freely in an
auxiliary capacity to increase the precision of identifications based primarily on chemical
(or other) data.

I ntroducUon

Parameters

Mineral Parameters in Minldent

Along witb mineral compositions, numerous other parameters, such as optical
properties, d-values, etc., have been incorporated into MinIdent. Many of these can be
used togetber or alone to identify minerals.
Warning: The use of very limited information (e.g., the refractive indices alone or
the d -values of the five strongest lines) will often not give very good discrimination, and
it may be found that quite a substantial number of minerals match the properties that
are input. In general, then, the more data that are entered, the better will be the
discrimination.
If MinIdent is used in conjunction with the petrographie microscope, the parameters
that may be determined and entered include:
- symmetry
- refractive indiees
- birefringence

-2V
- optical sign
- pleochroie scheme
- dispersion
In a limited number of cases, it may be possible to include some chemical information.
For example, it may be obvious that a mineral is a silicate or per ha ps a carbonate. It
may even be possible to go further and identify the group or family to which a mineral
belongs, e.g., the micas or the zeolites. In such cases, more detailed compositional
information could be included.

Introduction

PROCEDURES FR USING MINIDENT

Using MinIdent

How to Use MinIdent

The following MTS RUN command enters the idenl section of MinIdent:
$run unsp: minident t = 10
MinIdent will respond with
)Ident command "Unknown "?
Following is a summary of the commands or "procedures" available in this section. See
the "Commands" section for complete descriptions.
DISPLA Y
IDENTIFY
MATCH

lists all data f or specified minerals.

identifies an "unknown" mineral (Le. previously unidentified).
finds minerals meeting entered specifications.

TABULATE

lists specified data for minerals.

UNKNOWN

enters data for the "unknown" mineral to be identified (the default command).

Easiest Method

Identifying minerals as quickly as possible is important in terms of computing costs and

user's time. The quickest and easiest, but not the cheapest, procedure is as follows:
1. Enter all reliable data without error limits. Do not enter dubious data.
2. Invoke the identify procedure.
3. Invoke the tabulate procedure.
Note that this simple procedure is not the most economical or efficient. Therefore, the
following general procedure is recommended for those who will be using MinIdent
frequently.

Procedure

Recommended Procedure

1. Identify da ta as reliable on the one hand, or tentative or dubious on the other.

2. Using only reliable data, assign generous error limits to these data; limits that
should equal or exceed any possible uncertainties. The tendency to underestimate
errors and uncertainties should be guarded against very carefully.
3. Input the reliable da ta and assigned error limits to the MinIdent procedure MATCH.
MA TCH considers all minerals, but rejects from further consideration all minerals
for wh ich any information in the da ta base does not fall within the limits set in the

Procedures for Using Minldent

input data.

Warning: It is important not to enter concentrations of minor or trace elements at

this stage, irrespective of how well they are known, for these elements may be
peculiar to this particular sampie and not matched by any sam pIe in the data base.
The program will reject a sam pIe in the da ta base even if the mismatch is of a minor
element which has trivial significance. As a general ruie, do not use concentrations
of less than 2 per cent at this stage. Given only the qualitative estimates of the
concentration of a few elements, the procedure outlined will normally reduce the
possibilities 10 a much more manageable number.
Limitations of MATCH: Occasionally, the MATCH procedure will fail to produce
possible minerals. This may mean that some of the data entered are in error, or
alternatively that the sample being investigated has properties that He outside the
range presently ineluded in the data base. In this instance, the IDENTIFY procedure
becomes particularly important since it can provide a list of the minerals to which
the unknown is most similar even though none of them are a elose match.
4.

Run the IDENTIFY procedure on the reduced list generated by MATCH. (This
procedure is much more expensive per sam pIe than MATCH.)
a. Enter or re-enter all data exact1y as they were obtained. There is no need to
specify error limits since the pro gram will not reject any mineral on the basis of
amismatch between the data base and the unknown. Rather demerit points
are assigned for amismatch; the number of demerit points being determined by
the extent of the mismatch.
b. Enter the IDENTIFY AND command to invoke the IDENTIFY procedure for
only those minerals listed by the previously run MATCH procedure.
11

5.

11

When the IDENTIFY procedure has completed its testing, use the T ABLE
command to display the names and other data for the twenty most likely minerals.
At this point, it is a good idea to inelude in the tabulation all of the parameters
which were input for the unknown as well as ineluding the matching indices
(specified by INDICES). lt is then possible to see at a glance both the extent and the
relative differences in the various mismatches.
The difference between the properties of the unknown and the twenty most
similar minerals can be examined and the nature and extent of discrepancies
assessed. Detailed comparisons of X -ray diffraction da ta may then be called for.
Such investigations become much easier, even if an entirely pure sam pIe of the
unknown cannot be obtained, once the number of possibilities have been drastically
reduced by the MinIdent procedures.
When a truly new mineral is discovered, it will probably not show a good match
with any of the minerals in the data base. However, caution should be exercised in
coneluding that the mineral is indeed new until the properties of all of the similar
minerals listed by the IDENTIFY procedure have been compared in detail and, if
possible, a definitive X -ray diffraction pattern has been obtained from a pure
sam pIe of the unknown. In this regard, it is highly desirable to follow the procedures
set out by the Commission on New Mineral Names of the International
Mineralogical Association. A check -list produced by this commission is ineluded as
an appendix to this manual.

6. Tabulate other properties of these twenty minerals to pinpoint additional data that
could be useful in the identification of the unknown.
a. To enter additional data, issue the command UNKNOWN EDIT in response to
the request for a Minldent command.
b. Enter the additional data.
c. Enter SAVE 10 finish the input.

Procedures for Using Minldent

10

7. Enter the command MATCH AND to observe the effect of the data added. This will
cause only the previously matched minerals to be considered. However, if data that
had previously been entered are changed, it is advisable to run MATCH on the
entire data base again, since some minerals that had previously been excluded may
now be possible matches.
8. Again, issue the commands IDENTIFY AND and TABLE to obtain a ranking of
these possibilities and display the various parameters of interest.
9. If several possibilities remain at the end of these procedures, it simply means that
the da ta entered are not adequate either in quality or quantity to make a positive
identification. Either obtain additional data and rerun the program using the new
data, or consult the literature for a more detailed description of the possibilities and
their properties.
To obtain a lead into the relevant literature, ask the program to tabulate the
SOUrce(s) for information included in the data base. Although the references given
will not be a comprehensive bibliography, they will usually provide an initial lead.
Another approach would be to consult reference books, such as Fleischer (1983),
Roberts et al. (1974), where literature references are usually provided.

Errors

Minimising Effects of Errors

The successful and rapid identification of minerals, by whatever method, has always
depended heavily on careful and accurate observations and recording of data. Although
this axiom remains true in the use of Minldent, the data base and software have been
designed to minimise, as far possible, the effects of errors in data on the end result. This
has been achieved in two ways:
1. Error limits can be specified for the data that are entered.
2. The IDENTIFY procedure presents a list of the twenty most likely identities on the
basis of the data input.
This list, which is arranged in order of decreasing likelihood of correct
identification, permits a systematic exploration of other properties for a limited
number of possibilities, rather than searching amongst the nearly 4000 species and
varieties that presently constitute the list of recognized minerals.
The use of the T ABLE command to tabulate any of the properties stored in the
data base for this drastically reduced list of possibilities allows the user to see at a
glance what other properties might be determined or what data should be obtained
more accurately to distinguish between the possibilities listed.

Procedures for Using Minldent

11

DATA TYPES

Minldent manages a mineral da ta base that consists of five types of data.

mineral

Mineral data
Mineral data consist of data wh ich are common to all sampies of a mineral. These
include coordinations, formula, JCPDS numbers, name, polymorphs, space group,
symmetry and year first described.

sampIe

SampIe data
SampIe da ta consist of data for one sampie of a mineral. Such data may be included for
many sampIes of the mineral. These data include dispersion, indices of refraction, OAP,
pleochroic scheme, reflectances, VHN, 2Vy, unit cell dimension~..-Gllec.tion DnD:l.ba...
eI...., - - composition, density, locality, Mohs hardness, occurrences, remarks and source.
I

general

General data
In many instances, literature sources used in building this data base present only the
minimum and maximum values for mineral parameters determined from many sampies.
Whenever such sam pIe data are presented with no SINGLE sampie specified, then they
are called general data. From now on "general da ta " will mean such general sam pIe
data. These data are not necessarily the most useful; however, they are often the only
data presented. Note: Each mineral may have general data from each source.
The general data stored in Minldent include dispersion, indices of refraction,
orientation of the optic axial plane, reflectances, 2Vy, density, localities, Mohs
hardness, occurrences, remarks, source, unit cell dimensions/angles and Vickers
hardness number.
I

The above da ta are not used for mineral identification purposes - only the compiled data
described below.

compiled

Compiled data
Compiled data are similal' to general data, but because of the following differences are
more useful for identification:
1. Compiled data are not entered but calculated by Minldent from sam pIe and general
data present in the data base.
2. Minima and maxima are found from general and sam pie data, while averages are
calculated from sampie data. Moreover, standard deviations are calculated for
compositional data.

Data Types

12
3. If not enough compositional data is made available, MinIdent will calculate the
minimum and maximum weight percentages for the elements from the formula.

unknown

Unknown data
To identify amineral, MinIdent needs to be supplied with some information about it. In
this manual, the term "unknown" will refer to the mineral being identified, and the
term "unknown da ta " will refer to the data entered by the user for the unknown.
Unknown data are not stored in the da ta base, but in a buffer. These data contain the
minimum and maximum values for the parameters of the unknown. For identification
or matching purposes, the minimum and maximum of a mineral parameter should
reflect the limits of measurement accuracy, e.g., if density was measured as 3.0 10.0%,
it would be entered as:
density= 2.7 -3.3
If
density = 3.0
was entered, Minldent would assurne an accuracy of 1.0%, which would make the
above equivalent to
density = 2 .97 -3 .03
Note: For the match and identify procedures to function successfully, it is important
that inaccuracies in measurement are not underestimated. Precise specification of data,
which was really determined with an accuracy poorer than that implied , may result in a
failure to match or identify the unknown.
These minima and maxima mayaiso be used to list all minerals that have parameters
that fall within the bounds specified by the user, i.e., to list all minerals with a density
between 5.0 and 6.0, enter:
unknown ................................................. unknown da ta can now be entered
density=5.0 - 6.0 ............................................. entry of density for unknown
save ..................................................... da ta entry for unknown is complete
match .................................................... find minerals with 5 .0~density~6.0
tabulate""",.,u", """",,.,. """,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, " tabulate matched minerals

Data Types

13
To enter unknown data:
1. enter the ident section (if not already in)
2. unknown
3. unknown edit
4. add or edit the unknown data
using the f ollowing commands:
A

ALPha
B

unit cell edge a

unit cell angle a
unit cell edge b

BETa

unit cell angle

BIRefringence

maximum value

c
CLAssify
COLour

unit cell edge c

mineral division
in thin section

COLour(Alpha)

pleochroism in X direction

COLour(Beta)

pleochroism in Y direction

COLour(EpsiJon)

dichroism in extraordinary direction

COLour(Gamma)

pleochroism in Z direction

COLour(Omega)
D- Values
DENsity
DISpersion
GAMma
IDEntifier
MOB

$run unsp: minident t = 10

to add unknown data
to edit unknown data

dichroism in ordinary direction

up to 15 ordered in decreasing intensities
g/cc
red>violet, violet>red or either
unit cell angle y
working "name" or title of unknown
position on Mohs' hardness scale

Data Types

14

index of refraction

N(Alpha)

index of refraction for light vibrating parallel to X direction

N(Beta)

index of refraction for light vibrating parallel to Y direction

N(Epsilon)

index of refraction for light vibrating parallel to extraordinary direction

N(Gamma)

index of refraction for light vibrating parallel to Z direction

N(Omega)
OAP
REMarks

optic axial plane / / or + to (100), (010), (001)

relevant comments

R(470)

reflectance at 470nm

R(546)

reflectance at 546nm

R(589)

reflectance at 589nm

R(650)

reflectance at 650nm

SAVE
SIGn
SYMmetry

entry of unknown data completed

optical sign ( + or -)
monoc1inic, trigonal, hexagonal, etc.

TYPe

silicates, oxides, arsenides, etc.

VHN

Vickers hardness number

Weight
2V(Alpha)
2V(Gamma)

Data Types

index of refraction for light vibrating parallel to ordinary direction

composition
converted to 2Vy
angle between the optic axes (across y)

15

COMMANDS

All symbols and terms that command Minldent to perform certain actions are shown in
alphabeticalorder in this section.

Syntax

Syntax Conventions
Following are the conventions used in command syntax and in synonyms:
1.

The minimum abbreviations, if allowed, are shown in upper case. For example:
DENsity
can be entered in upper, lower or mixed case in any of the following forms:
den
dens
den si
densit
density

2. {} (brace brackets) enclose terms that should be replaced appropriately. For

example:
SRECords ={mineral}
could mean the entry of:

srec = calcite
3.

() (parentheses) enclose optional material. For example:

Identify (And)
could be entered as either of the following:
i
i and

4.

.., (ellipsis) denotes that multiple entries are allowed. For example:
Table {parameter} ...
would permit the entry of:
table {parameterl} {parameter2} {parameter3}

5. Where {range} is specified, see range in the "Definitions" section.

Commands

16

CD

1 symbol

Syntax:
{command1JI{command2}
Semantics: The vertical bar symbol is used to separate multiple commands on one input
line. Minldent will place a "I:" before the next command being read in from
such a line.
Example: The following command:
unknownlmoh =910Isavelmatchltable moh name
is equivalent to:
unknown ................................... unknown data can now be entered
moh=9-10 ............................ entry of Mohs' hardness for unknown
save ....................................... data entry for unknown is complete
match ............................................. find minerals with 9~moh~10
tabulate moh name ................................. table of matched minerals
and will cause an output similar to:
I:
I:
I:
I:
Note:

[]

moh = 9-1Olsavelmatchltabulate moh name

savelmatchltabulate moh name
matchltabulate moh name
tabulate moh name

The sequential presentation above is made so that the user is aware of which
statement is being processed. This is important if one of the statements
contains an error. All commands on the same input line following a comand
which is in error will be ignored and the message "Multiple commands
ignored" will be printed.

. symbol
Syntax:

{start of a commandJ {middle of a commandJ {end of a commandJ

Semantics: The dash symbol informs Minldent that the next line entered is part of the
previous line. This may be needed where long lines are entered (such as for
remarks) because so me systems will truncate them.
Example: remarks=This mineral has not been found to occur as discrete crystals but only intergrown with relatedspecies in the form of polycrystals.
Note:
A dash should not split up a word as the dash is replaced by aspace.

Commands

17
# symbol
# {Minident command}
Syntax:
Semantics: The # symbol informs Minldent that the input is not a response to a
request, but a command to be executed. After the command is executed, the
request is made again.
This symbol is redundant when the request variable is off because all inputs
Note:
are assumed to be commands.
Example: )N(alpha)" "? 1.504 ........................................ incorrect value entered
)N(beta)""? #n(alpha) = 1.405 .................................. correction made
)N(beta)" "? 1.435 ............................................. correct value entered
)N( gamma ) " ,,')....

@symbol
Syntax:

1.
2.
Semantics: 1.
2.
Example:

{parameter}=@fline}
{requested parameter} @{line}
appends the line to the present value of {parameter}.
appends the line to the present value of the frequested parameter}. This
form can only be used when the request variable is on.
If the remarks parameter already contains
Mineral is metallic.
then the entry of:
1. remarks = @It is also brittle.
2. )REMarks"Mineral is metallic"? @It is also brittle.
would both cause the remarks parameter to contain:

Note:

Mineral is metallic. It is also brittle.

Aspace is inserted between the default and the appended value.

$ command

${MTS command}
Syntax:
Semantics: The dollar sign prefixes MTS commands and is therefore system dependent.
Example: $copy -p.min .................................... display contents of file "-p.min"
$empty -p.min .................................... delete contents of file "-p.min"
$mes .................................................. enter the MTS message system
$f .................................................................... list the user' s files

* command
*{comment}
Syntax:
Semantics: An asterisk symbol at the start of a line will cause that input line to be
ignored. This is useful as a "print" statement in a batch file.
Example: *This "command" will be ignored.1 *So will this
*This is also ignoredlbut this isn 't

Commands

18

? synonym for help

a parameter
l.
2.
3.
Semantics: l.
2.
3.
Units:
0.0

Syntax:

all

A
A={range}
tabu la te A
displays the unknown unit cell edge a.
assigns it.
tabulates it.
-150.0angstroms (A)

all parameter
Syntax:
tabu la te (parameters) ... ALL (parameters) ...
Semantics: tabulates the parameters f or all minerals in the data base.

alpha

alpha parameter
l.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.
2.
3.
Units:
0.0

Syntax:

angles

ALPha
ALPha = {range}
tabulate ALPha
displays the unknown unit cell angle a.
assigns it.
tabulates it.
- 180.0 degrees. See angle entry.

angles parameter
Syntax:
tabulate ANGles
Semantics: tabulates the a, and y unit cell angles.

attention

attention command
Syntax:
ATTENtion
Semantics: causes the same effect as hitting the attention (or break) key.
Synonym: BREAK

Commands

19
attention

attention key
Syntax:
<attention key>
Synonym: <break key>
Semantics: Hitting the attention (or break) key will cause a "loop" to end. For
example, if this key is hit when MinIdent is printing a list of values, it will
cause the listing to end prematurely. If hit when MinIdent is "looping"
around arequest, the previous request loop will be re-entered. Hitting this
key when processing a batch file is equivalent to entering batch pause.
If hit in the first request loop of a program. the program will end (as if stop
Note:
had been entered) .

average

average parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (parameters) ... AVErage (parameters) ...
Semantics: tabulates the average compiled data for the parameters (the default).

b parameter
Syntax:

1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.
2.
3.
Units:
0.0

batch

B
B={range}
tabulate B
displays the unknown unit cell edge b.
assigns it.
tabulates it.
-150.0angstroms (A)

batch command
1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.

Syntax:

Example:
Note:

BA TCH {batch file}

BA TCH Pause
BATCH Stop
directs MinIdent to take input from the batch file rather than from the
user. However. when an error is encountered. input will revert back to
the user. Input will resume from the batch file when the continue
command is entered .
2. causes input to revert back to the user when it is encountered within a
batch file. Input will resume from the batch file when the continue
command is ente red .
3. ends input from the batch file.
batch dpll :bd.min
The above command will cause input to be taken from the file dpll: bd .min.
The dpll file prefix is an MTS signon id.

Commands

20
batchprint

batchprint variable
Syntax:

BATCHPrint
BA TCHPrint All
BATCHPrint Line
BATCHPrint Off
displays the way batch lines will be printed.
causes batch lines and line numbers to be printed.
causes batch lines to be printed. When an error occurs, the number of
the last line read will be printed.
4. causes the line numbers of batch lines causing errors to be printed.
batchprint=all

1.
2.
3.
4.
Semantics: 1.
2.
3.
Default:

beta

beta parameter
1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.
2.
3.
Units:
0.0

Syntax:

birefringen ce

BETa
BETa = {range}
tabulate BETa
displays the unknown unit cell angle .
assigns it.
tabulates it.
- 180.0 degrees. See angle entry.

birefringence parameter
1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.

Syntax:

Units:
Note:

break

Commands

BIRefringence
BIRefringence={range}
tabulate BIRefringence
displays the maximum difference between the refractive indices for the
unknown.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it (for general. compiled and sam pie da ta too).
0.0 - 10.0
This parameter is the maximum birefrigence and is calculated as the
difference between the maximum and minimum refractive indices in the
compiled data base. Because these maximum and minimum values could
come from different sampies. the parameter calculated may be larger than
the actual maximum birefringence for any given sampie. For this reason and
for others concerned with the actual measurement of birefringence in thin
sections, generous upward limits should be specified when using this
parameter.

break synonym for attention

21
c parameter

1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.
2.
3.
0.0
Units:

Syntax:

c(alpha)

c(beta)

C
C={range}
tabulate C
displays the unknown unit cell edge c.
assigns it.
tabulates it.
- 150.0 angst roms (A)

c(alpha) synonym for colour(alpha)

c(beta) synonym for colour(beta)

c( epsilon)

c( epsilon) synonym for colour( epsilon)

c(gamma)

c(gamma) synonym for colour(gamma)

c(omega)

calpha

case

c(omega) synonym for colour(omega)

calpha synonym for colour(alpha)

case variable

Syntax:

1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.
2.

Default:
Note:

CASE
CASE Single
CASE Mixed
displays the case in which formulae may be entered.
specifies that formulae may be entered in one case. In this form. each
element in a formula must be separated from another. For example.
"sil02" or "SIl02" may be entered. but not "SI02" which could be
interpreted as consisting of sulphur. iodine and oxygen rather than
silicon and oxygen.
3. specifies that formulae must be entered in mixed case. For example.
"Si02" should be entered .
case=mixed
This variable affects only the processing of the formulae that are entered
for the weight parameters of unknown data and the weight parameters of
the tabulate command.

Commands

22

cbeta

cbeta synonym for colour(beta)

cepsilon

cepsilon synonym for colour(epsilon)

cgamma

cgamma synonym for colour(gamma)

classify

classify parameter

1.
2.
Semantics: 1.
2.

Syntax:

{levelJ:
Note:

Example:

CLAssify
CLAssify (AS) {level} (OF) {division} ({division})
displays the classification system of the unknown.
classifies the unknown in terms of level and divisions. (The level and
second division are not presently used.)
TOp, Mineral, TYpe, Class, Family, SUPer-group, Group, SUB-Group,
SE ries , End -member, SPecies, SUB -Species, Variety.
To tabulate this parameter, see the level and division parameters. The tree
command will show how minerals are classified. This command is explained
here to show how minerals are classified in the data base. However, when
"classifying" unknowns, only the first division value is of any use. The
usefulness of specifying a division is that matching will be limited to that
division rather than the entire data base, i.e., if the unknown was classified
as belonging to the albite division, then only albite, cleavelandite and
peristerite will be scanned by the match procedure.
For the following partial classification scheme:

I------------DIVISIONS-----------I LEVELS

MINERALS

top

OXIDES SILICATES CARBONATES

type

TECTOSILICATES PHYLLOSILICATES class

ZEOLITES FELDS PARS FELDSPATHOIDS

PLAGIOCLASE

ALKALI-FELDSPARS

1\/

ANORTHITE

ALBITE

CLEAVELANDITE
DIVISION
clea velandite
albite
plagioc1ase

Commands

farnily
group

MICROCLINE species

PERISTERITE

variety

CLASSIFIED AS
variety of albite
species of plagioclase alkali -feldspars
group of feldspars

23
cm

cm parameter
Syntax:
tabulate CM
Semantics: The compositional matching (CM) index will be tabulated. This index
indicates how weH an unknown matches a mineral on the basis of the
concentrations of elements present. This is the most important index for
MinIdent.

color

color(alpha)

color(beta)

color synonym for colour

color(alpha) synonym for colour(alpha)

color(beta) synonym for colour(beta)

color(epsilon)

color(epsilon) synonym for colour(epsilon)

color(gamma)

color(gamma) synonym f or colour(gamma)

color(omega)

color(omega) synonym for colour(omega)

colors

colors synonym for colours

colour

colour parameter
Syntax:

1. COLOur
2. COLOur=({colourJ), ... repeated up to 6 times
3. tabu la te COLOur
{colour}
See the colour entry rules.
Semantics: 1. displays unknown colour in thin section of a mineral which is not
dichroic or pleochroic.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it in the c(alpha) column of the table.
Synonyms: COLOr, CLR

Commands

24

colours

colours parameter
Syntax:
tabu la te COLOURS
Synonyms: COLORS. DIChroisms. PLEochroisms
Semantics: The colour. dichroic and pleochroic schemes will be tabulated. The column
headings will be C(alpha). CCbeta) and C(gamma). For dichroic schemes.
colour will appear in the C(alpha) column while colour will appear in the
CCbe~) column. For colour scheme. colour will appeahn the C(alpha)
column.

colour(alpha)

colour(alpha) parameter
l. COLOUR(Alpha)
2. COLOUR(ALpha) = {colourJ) ... repeated up to 6 times
3. tabulate COLOUR(Alpha)
{colour}
See the colour entry rules.
Synonyms: C(Alpha). CALpha. COLOR(Alpha)
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown colour in thin section corresponding to the X
vibration direction.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Example: c(alpha) = red

Syntax:

colour(beta)

colour(beta) parameter
l. COLOUR(Beta)
2. COLOur(Beta) = ({colourJ) .... repeated up to 6 times
3. tabulate COLOUR(Beta)
{colour}
See the colour entry rules.
Synonyms: COLOR(Beta). C(Beta). CBEta
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown colour in thin section corresponding to the Y
vibration direction.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Example: c(beta) = dark blue

Syntax:

colour( epsilon)

colour( epsilon) parameter

l. COLOUR(Epsilon)
2. COLOur(Epsilon) = ({colour}) .... repeated up to 6 times
3. tabulate COLOUR(Epsilon)
{colour}
See the colour entry rules.
Synonyms: COLOR(Epsilon). C(Epsilon). CEPsilon
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown colour in thin section corresponding to the
extraordinary vibration direction.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it under the c(beta) column of the table.
Example: c( epsilon) = light blue

Syntax:

Commands

25
eolour(gamma)

cOlour(gamma) parameter
Syntax:

1. COLOUR(Gamma)

2. COLOur(Gamma)= ({eolourJ) .... repeated up to 6 times

3. tabulate COLOUR(Gamma)
{eolour}
See the colour entry rules.
Synonyms: COLOR(Gamma). C(Gamma). CGAmma
Semanties: 1. displays the unknown eolour in thin seetion eorresponding to the Z
vibration direction.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Example: e(gamma) = pale yellow. orange

eolour( omega)

colour(omega) parameter
Syntax:

1. COLOUR(Omega)
2. COLOur( Omega) = ({ eolour}) .... repeated up to 6 times

3. tabulate COLOUR(Omega)
{eolour}
See the colour entry rules.
Synonyms: COLOR(Omega), C(Omega), COMega
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown eolour in thin seetion eorresponding to the
ordinary vibration direetion.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it under the e(alpha) eolumn of the table.
Example: c(omega) = orange

co mega

eontinue

comega synonym for colour(omega)

continue eommand
Syntax:
CONTinue
Semantics: When processing from the bateh file has been suspended due to an error,
beeause the batch pause eommand has been eneountered, or because the
attention key has been hit. then the continue command will cause processing
to resurne from the batch file.

coordination

coordination parameter
Syntax:
Synonym:
Semantics:
Example:

tabulate COOrdination {element}

CRD
tabulates the coordination(s) of the element of a mineral.
ta bula te coo fe

Commands

26
crd

cutoff

erd synonym for coordination

eu toff variable
Syntax:

l. CUTOFF
2. CUTOFF={rangeJ
Semantics: l. displays the weight percentage for which elements with a lower value
will be ignored (Le., not used) in the match procedure.
2. assigns it.
Default:
cutoff = l.0%

d -value

dvalue parameter
Syntax:

l. D- Values
2. D- Values={rangeJ, ... repeated up to 15 times
3. tabulateD-Values
Semantics: l. displays the unknown d -values.
2. assigns them.
3. tabulates them (only the first five).
Synonym: DVAlues
Note:
The 15 (or less) most intense diffraction lines must be entered in order of
decreasing intensity. For identification purposes, as many as 15lines may be
used, but for matching, only the first 5.
0.0 - 100.0 angstroms (A)
Units:
Example: d-v=2.93, 4.32, 9.35, 5.02, 3.87

data

data parameter
Syntax:
tabu la te DATA
Semantics: tabu la te the type of data making up each row of the table. This can be one
of:
CAVE .................................... average compiled data (the default)
CMAX .................................................. maximum compiled data
CMIN ................................................... minimum compiled data
UMAX ................................................. maximum unknown da ta
UMIN .................................................. minimum unknown da ta

date

date parameter
Syntax:
tabulate DATe
Synonym: TIMe
Semantics: tabulates the date that the data was last modified.

Commands

27
default

default parameter
Syntax:
tabulate DEFault
Semanties: The default parameter is equivalent to inserting name, unknown, tm, (other
parameters entered for unknown) and formula. For example, if a value for
density has been entered into the unknown, then
tabulate default
is equivalent to entering
tabulate name unknown tm density formula
Note:

density

If no parameters have been specified, default is assumed.

density parameter
l.
2.
3.
Semanties: 1.
2.
3.
Units:
0.0

Syntax:

diehroism

DENsity
DENsity = {range}
tabulate DENsity
displays the unknown density.
assigns it.
tabulates it.
- 25.0g/cc

dichroism parameter
The phenomenon whereby a mineral transmits different colours for light vibrating
parallel to the extraordinary and ordinary vibration directions. Diehroism is entered via
the colour(epsilon) and colour(omega) commands. It is treated by the program as
equivalent 10 the colours parameter.

dimensions

dimensions parameter
Syntax:
tabulate DIMensions
Semanties: tabulates the a, b, c, a , and 'Y unit ceH dimensions.

dispersion

dispersion parameter
Syntax:

l. DISpersion

2. DISpersion = ({dispersion}), ({dispersion})

3. tabulate DISpersion
{dispersion} : RED> Violet, R> Violet
VIOLET> Red, v> Red
Either
Sem an ties: l. displays the unknown dispersion.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.

Commands

28

Example:
Note:

display

disp=r>v
disp = r > v ,v> r
disp=e
The last two examples are equivalent.

display command
This command causes aB da ta for particular compiled minerals to be displayed, each on
a separate page.
Syntax:
1. Display Compiled {mineral} ...
2. Display All (Compiled)
3. Display Matched
4. Display Unknown
Semantics: 1. displays compiled data for the minerales) specified.
2. displays compiled data for aB minerals in the data base.
3. displays the compiled data for matched or identified minerals.
4. displays the data for the unknown.
Note:
The date displayed is the date data was last modified. For compiled data,
the minimum, average, and maximum value of the parameters will be
shown. The standard deviations of compositions will be shown only when
more than five analyses have been used.
Example: See "SampIe Sessions" .

divisions

divisions parameter
tabulate (LENgth Hen}) DIVisions
Syntax:
minimum = 8, default=20, maximum=81
Hen} :
Semantics: The divisions in which a mineral belongs will be tabulated with the length
specified. For example. cleavelandite belongs to the albite division, which
belongs to the plagioclase and alkali -feldspars divisions, which both belong
to the feldspars division, which belongs to the tectosilicates ...
Note:
The tree command will also show divisions of minerals. The classify
command assigns them.

dvalues

EDATA2

dvalues synonym f or d -va lues

EDATA2 command
Syntax:
EDATA2
Semantics: The elemental compositional (weight) da ta from the output of the
EDATA2 program, Smith & Gold (1979), will be read in for the unknown.
See "SampIe Sessions" .

Commands

29
edges

edges parameter
Syntax:
tabulate EDGes
Semantics: tabulates the a, band c unit cell edges.

elist

elist command
Syntax:
ELIST
Semantics: produces a list of the elements and their atomic weights. The listing may be
stopped at any time by hitting the attention key.

epsilon

exit

explain

formula

epsilon synonym for n( epsilon)

exit synonym for stop

explain synonym for help

formula parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (LENgth ={Jen}) FORmula
Hen];
minimum = 7, default= 33, maximum = 100
Semantics: tabulates the mineral formula with the length specified.

gamma

gamma parameter

1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.
2.
3.
Units:
0.0

Syntax:

help

GAMma
GAMma = {range}
tabulate GAMma
displays the unknown unit cell angle
assigns it.
tabulates it.
- 180.0 degrees. See angle entry.

"y

help command

1. Help
2. Help {term}
Semantics: 1. causes the CUTrent request to be explained.
2. causes {term} to be explained.
Synonyms: ?, EXPLain
Note:
The list command can be used to list all terms that may be explained via the
Syntax:

Commands

30

help command.

identifier

identifier parameter
Syntax:

1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.

Example:

identify

IDEntifier
IDEntifier={identifierJ
tabulate IDEntifier
displays the identifier - the "name" assigned to an unknown by an
investigator which distinguishes it from other unknowns.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it in the name column of the table.
iden = analysis 123, possibly hornblende

identify command

1. Identify
2. Identify And
Semantics: 1. Finds the 20 most likely identities of the unknown by comparing it to all
minerals in the data base. However, if a mineral subset has been loaded
by using the subset command, then the unknown will be compared only
with the subset.
2. Finds the 20 most likely iden ti ti es of the unknown by comparing it only
with the previously matched or identified minerals. Because
identification is much more expensive and time consuming per sam pie
than matching, this form is very useful after a match has narrowed
down the possibilities.
Note:
The table command with the indices parameter can be used to list the
identities and can also show how well a particular mineral matches the
unknown. The display command can list all information about identified
minerals. The difference between the match command and the identify
command is that match will reject all minerals that lie outside the range
specified f or the unknown (e.g., den = 3.0 - 4.0), while identify does not
reject any mineral, although it wil1likely assign lower matching indices for
such minerals. Also, matching is much quicker and less expensive than
identification.
Example: See "Sam pie Sessions" .

Syntax:

IM

IM parameter
Syntax:
tabulate IM
Semantics: The Information matching (IM) index will be tabulated . This index reflects
the percentage of the properties entered for the unknown that were available
in the da ta base. As the MinIdent data base becomes more complete, so the
significance of this matching index will decline.

Commands

31

indices

indices parameter
Syntax:
tabulate INDices
Synonyms: INDex, MATching
Semantics: tabulates the TM, CM, OPM and IM matching indices.

JCPDS

JCPDS parameter

Syntax:
tabulate JCPds
Synonym: PDF
Semantics: tabulates the mineral JCPDS number. The reference number (PDF number)
for the mineral in the files of the Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction
Standards.

level

level parameter
Syntax:
tabu la te LEVel
Semantics: tabulates the dassification level of a mineral (division). The level can be
one of: top, type, dass, family, super-group, group, sub-group, series,
end -mem ber, species, sub -species and variety. The tree command will also
display the level of a mineral. The classify command assigns them.

length

length parameter
Syntax:
tabulate LENgth {length} {parameter}
Semantics: The parameter following the length specification will be tabulated with
{length} characters. This affects only the following parameters (with
minimum, default and maximum lengths shown):
Parameters
minimum default maximum
divisions
8
20
81
formula
7
33
100
locality
9
53
130

mme

Example:

list

occurrence
10
polymorphs
10
proportion -basis
5
remarks
7
source
6
tabulate length 60 formula

53
26
10
53
53

130
80
40
130
130

list command

Syntax:
LIST
Semantics: lists all the terms that may be explained with the help command. The listing
may be stopped any time by hitting the attention key.

Commands

32
loeality

locality parameter
Syntax:
{len} :
Synonym:
Semantics:

loeation

match

tabulate (LENgth = {Jenn LOCality

minimum =9, default=53, maximum = 130
LOCation
tabulates the geographic regions where sampies used in the data base are
found with the length specified.

location synonym for loeality

match command
Syntax:

1. Match
2. Match And
Semantics: 1. finds all the minerals in the data base that match the data for the
unknown within the limits entered. However, if a mineral subset has
been loaded by using the subset command, then the subset will be
scanned rather than the entire data base. If a mineral division was
specified for the unknown with the classify command, then only
minerals in that division will be scanned.
2. matches but considers only the previously matched or identified
minerals.
Note:
The tabu la te command can list specified information for the matched
minerals, while the display command will list all information about them.
The difference between the match command and the identify command is
that match will reject all minerals that lie outside the range specified for the
unknown (e.g., den=3.0 - 4.0), while identify does not reject any mineral,
although it willlikely assign lower matching indices for such minerals. Also,
matching is much quicker and less expensive than identification.
Example: See "Sampie Sessions" .

maximum

maximum parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (parameter) ... MAXimum (parameter) ...
Semantics: tabulates the maximum compiled data values for the parameters specified.
Note:
The dafault is the average compiled da ta values.

minimum

minimum parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (parameter) ... MINimum (parameter) ...
Semantics: tabulates the minimum compiled da ta values for the parameters specified.
Note:
The default is the average compiled data values.

Commands

33

mohs

mohs parameter
1. MOHs
2. MOHs={range}
3. tabulate MOHs
Semantics: l. displays the unknown Moh 's hardness.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Units:
0.0 - 10.0
Example: moh=4.5-5.0

Syntax:

l1iJ

n parameter
Syntax:

l. N

2. N = {range}
3. tabulate N
Semantics: l. displays the unknown index of refraction.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it in the n(alpha) column of the table.
Units:
l.3 - 10.0
Example: n= l.594

n(alpha)

n (alpha) parameter
Syntax:

l. N(Alpha)
2. N(Alpha) = {range}
3. tabulate N(Alpha)
Synonym: NALpha
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown n index of refraction corresponding to the X
vibration direction in a 'bi axial mineral.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Units:
l.3 - 10.0
Example: n(alpha) = 1.72-1. 75

n(beta)

n(beta) parameter
Syntax:

1. N(Beta)
2. N (Beta) = {range}
3. tabulate N(Beta)
Synonym: NBEta
Semanties: 1. displays the unknown rnindex of refraction corresponding to the Y
vibration direction of a'biaxial mineral.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Units:
l.3 - 10.0
Example: n(beta) = 1.495

Commands

34

n(epsilon)

n (epsilon) parameter
Syntax:

1. N(Epsilon)
2. N(Epsilon) = {range}
3. tabulate N(Epsilon)
Synonyms: NEPsilon, EPSilon
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown n index of refraction corresponding to the
extraordinary vibrationfdirection of a uniaxial mineral.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it in the n(beta) column of the table.
Units:
1.3 - 10.0
Example: n(epsilon) =1.65

n(gamma)

n(gamma) parameter

1. N(Gamma)
2. N(Gamma) = {range}
3. tabulate N(Gamma)
Synonym: NGAmma
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown ny index of refraction corresponding to the Z
vibration direction of abiaxial mineral.
2. assigns it. Minldent automatically ensures that n =:; rp =:; ny.
a
3. tabulates it.
Units:
1.3 - 10.0
Example: n(gamma) = 1.62-1.67
Syntax:

n(omega)

n(omega) parameter

Syntax:

1. N(Omega)
2. N(Omega) = {range}
3. tabulate N(Omega)
Synonyms: NOMega, OMEga
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown IL index of refraction corresponding to the
ordinary vibration direction of a uniaxial mineral.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it in the n(alpha) column of the table.
Units:
1.3 - 10.0
Example: n(omega) = 1.59

nalpha

Commands

nalpha synonym for n(alpha)

35
name

name parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (LENgth {lenl) NAMe
{len} :
minimum=4, default=20, maximum=40
Semantics: tabulates the mineral name and unknown identifier with the length
specified.

nbeta

nbeta synonym for n(beta)

nepsilon

nepsilon synonym for n( epsilon)

ngamma

ngamma synonym for n(gamma)

nomega

null

nomega synonym for n(omega)

null value
Syntax:
{parameter} = NULL
Semantics: erases the value of a parameter or variable.
Example: density = null
d-values= , , ,null,null
Note:
The example demonstrates how the fourth and fifth d-values can be erased
while leaving the first three unchanged.

number

number parameter
Syntax:
tabulate NUMber
Semantics: numbers the rows in the table.

OAP

OAP parameter
l. OAP
2. OAP = (foapJ), ({oapJ) , ({oapJ)
{oap} examples:
11(010) or (010) ................................................ parallel to (010)
+ (010) ................................................... perpendicular to (010)
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown Miller indices of the orientation of the optic axial
plane in monoclinic minerals.
2. assigns it. Note: multiple values are allowed for unknowns to match
minerals having any of the orientations.
Example: oap=1 1(100), + (010)

Syntax:

Commands

36
occurrence

occurrence parameter
tabulate (LENgth {len}) OCCurrence
Syntax:
{len} :
minimum =10, default=53, maximum = 130
Semantics: tabulates the occurrence with the length specified - the geological and/or
mineralogical environment in which sampies used in the data base have been
found.

of

of parameter
Syntax:
Tabulate (parameters) ... OF {minerals} ...
Semantics: tabulates the parameters for the specified minerals.
Note:
When of is not specified, the default is a tabulation of the parameters fOT all
the matched or identified minerals. Also, of must be the last parameter in
the tabulate command.
Example: tabulate density formula of biotite hornblende

omega

OPM

omega synonym for n(omega)

OPM parameter of table

Syntax:
tabulate OPM
Semantics: tabulates the other properties matching (OPM) index. This index indicates
how well an unknown matches a mineral based on properties other than
composition: density, dispersion, d -values, Mohs' hardness, OAP,
pleochroism, reflectance, indices of refraction, symmetry, unit cell
dimensions and angles, VHN and 2V-y.

output

output variable
Syntax:

OUTPUT
OUTPUT = Terminal
OUTPUT = File
displays where output will be sent
sends output from the tabulate and display commands to the terminal
(user) .
3. sends output from the tabulate and display to the file "-p.min". This is
useful if a hard copy of the output is desired. To produce the hard copy
in MTS, for example, enter:

1.
2.
3.
Semantics: 1.
2.

$copy -p.min *print*

Default :

Commands

output = terminal

37
pbase

pbase synonym for proportion-basis

pbasis

pbasis synonym f or proportion -basis

pleochroism

pleochroism parameter
The phenomenon whereby a mineral shows different colours for light vibrating parallel
to the X, Y or Z vibration directions. This parameter is treated as equivalent to the
colours parameter of the tabu la te command.

polymorphs

polymorphs parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (LENgth {len}) POLymorphs
{Jen}:
minimum=lO, default=26, maximum=80
Semanties: tabulates the mineral poly morphs with the length specified.

proportion -basis

proportion-basis parameter
Syntax:
{Jen}:
Synonyms:
Semantics:
Note:

proportion -sum

tabulate (LENgth={lenJ) PROPORTION-Basis

minimum=5, default= 10, maximum =40
PBAse, PBAsis
tabulates the elements on which the calculation of atomic proportions are
based with the length specified. This is mineral data.
The elements on which the proportions are based will be indicated with an
"." (asterisk) in the proportion basis column produced by the display
command.

proportion-sum parameter
tabulate PROPORTION -Sum
Syntax:
Synonym: PSUm
Semantics: tabulates the proportion sum of the elements that form the basis. This is
mineral data.

psum

psum synonym for proportion -sum

Commands

38
quit

quit synonym for stop

r(470)

r(470) synonym for reflectance(470nm)

r(546)

r(546) synonym for refleetanee(546nm)

r(589)

r(589) synonym for refleetanee(589nm)

r( 650)

r( 650) synonym f or refleetanee( 650nm)

reeord

record parameter
Syntax:
tabu la te RECord
Semantics: tabulates the reeord number of the mineral tabulated .
Note:
Compiled da ta have the same reeord numbers as mineral data.

reeords

records eommand
RECords {prefix}
Syntax:
Semantics: lists the record numbers, number of sampies and number of generals of aB
mineral names starting with {prefix}. Hitting the attention key will eause the
listing to stop.
Example: ree para
Note:
{prefix} may be substituted by a mineral name for which the above
information is desired.

refleetanee

reflectance parameter
Syntax:
tabulate REFlectanee
Synonym: RFL
Semantics: tabulates the reflectanees at 470nm, 546nm, 589nm and 650nm.

reflectanee( 470nm)

reflectance( 470nm) parameter

l. REFLECTANCE( 470nm)
2. REFLECTANCE(470nm) = {range}
3. ta bulate REFLECT AN CE( 470nm)
Synonyms: R(470), R470nm
Semanties: l. displays the unknown refleetanee measured at a wavelength of 470

Syntax:

Commands

39

Units:
Example:

reflectance( 546nm)

nanometers, preferably using the procedures outlined by the commission

on Ore Microscopy of the International Mineralogical Association
(Bowie & Simpson, 1978).
2. assigns them.
3. tabulates them.
0.0 - 100.0 percent
r(470) =45

reflectance( 546nm) parameter

1. REFLECTANCE(546nm)
2. REFLECT ANCE( 546nm) = {range}
3. tabulate REFLECTANCE(546nm)
Synonyms: R(546), R546nm
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown reflectance measured at a wavelength of 546
nanometers, preferably using the procedures outlined by the commission
on Ore Microscopy of the International Mineralogical Association
(Bowie & Simpson, 1978).
2. assigns them.
3. tabulates them.
Units:
0.0 - 100.0 percent
Example: r(546)=37
Syntax:

reflectance( 589nm)

reflectance(589nm) parameter
1. REFLECT ANCE( 589nm)
2. REFLECT ANCE(589nm) = {range}
3. tabulate REFLECTANCE(589nm)
Synonyms: R(589), R589nm
Semanties: 1. displays the unknown reflectance measured for a wavelength of 589
nanometers, preferably using the procedures outlined by the commission
on Ore Microscopy of the International Mineralogical Association
(Bowie & Simpson, 1978).
2. assigns them.
3. tabulates them.
Units:
0.0 - 100.0 percent
Example: r(470)=32

Syntax:

reflectance( 650nm)

reflectance ( 650nm) parameter

1. REFLECT ANCE( 650nm)
2. REFLECTANCE(650nm) = {range}
3. tabulate REFLECTANCE(650nm)
Synonyms: R(650), R650nm
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown reflectance measured for a wavelength of 650
nanometers, preferably using the procedures outlined by the commission
on Ore Microscopy of the International Mineralogical Association
(Bowie & Simpson, 1978).

Syntax:

Commands

40

Units:
Example:

refraction

refraction parameter
Syntax:
Synonym:
Semantics:
Note:

request

2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
0.0 - 100.0 percent
r(650)=38

tabulate REFraction
RFR
tabulates the n , ~ and n)' indices of refraction.
For uniaxial m~nerals, the n will appear in the n(alpha) column while the n
E
will appear in the n(beta) ~lumn. For cubic minerals, n will appear in the
n(alpha) column.

request variable
Syntax:

1. REQUEST
2. REQUEST= {value}
{value}:
True, Yes, ON
False, No, OFf
Semantics: 1. displays the value of the request variable.
2. assigns it. If request is "on" then Minident will make requests for
unknown parameters. If it is "off" then unknown parameters can be
entered only by commands.

remarks

remarks parameter
Syntax:

1. REMarks
2. REMarks EDIT
3. REMarks = {remarks}
4. tabulate (LENgth {len}) REMarks
{len} :
minimum = 7, default=53. maximum = 130
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown remarks with the length specified.
2. edits them using the MTS editor.
3. assigns them.
4. tabulates them.
Example: rem = mineral belongs to the amphibole group

rfl

Commands

rf]

synonym for reflectances

41
rfr

rfr synonym for refractions

r470nm

r470nm synonym for reflectance( 470nm)

r546nm

rS46nm synonym f or reflectance( 546nm)

r589nm

rS89nm synonym for reflectance(589nm)

r650nm

r6S0nm synonym f or reflectance( 650nm)

save

save command
Syn tax:
SA VE
Semantics: saves the data entered for an unknown and then returns to the previous
request loop.

sign

sign parameter
Syntax:

1. SlGn

2. SIGn={sign}
3. tabulate SIGn
sign:
plus, positive or +
minus or negative
Semantics: l. displays the optical sign f or the unknown.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Note:
The optical sign is calculated from 2V(gamma) for compiled data. Also
"minus" must be entered rather than "-", which is the line continuation
character.

source

source parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (LENgth {len}) SOUrce
{len}:
minimum=6, default=53, maximum = 130
Semanties: tabulates the source of data for the mineral with the specified length.

Commands

42

space-group

space-group parameter
Syntax:
tabulate SPAce -group
Synonym: SPCgrp
Semantics: tabulates the mineral space group.
Convention:
The space groups are listed in the following conventions:
1. Subscripts are written as numbers enclosed within parentheses "()",
e.g., P4(1) =P4
2. Bars ar~indicated by a negative sign preceding the number, e.g.,
P-4=P4
3. Slashes are as written, e.g., C2/m.
j

spcgrp

spcgrp synonym for space-group

status

status command
Syntax:
ST ATus
Semantics: prints out the following information about the state of the data base and the
user:
1. number of mineral, sam pie and general records in the da ta base
2. access rights of the current user
3. values of the user variables batchprint, case, cutoff, output and unload

stop

stop command
Syntax:
STOP
Semantics: terminates the program. In MTS, the program can be continued by entering
$STart or $REStart and will behave as if the stop command was not issued.
In other systems, the program may not be continued.
Synonyms: QUIT, EXIT
Note:
If the unload variable is "on", then the program cannot be continued.

subset

subset command

l.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Semantics: l.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Syntax:

Commands

SUBSET
SUBSET Load {file}
SUBSET Off
SUBSET Read {file}
SUBSET Save {file}
SUB SET Transfer {file}
SUBSET Write {file}
displays the number of minerals in the subset
loads pointers to the minerals in the subset.
uses the entire da ta base rather than the subset.
reads the names of the minerals in the subset.
saves the pointers to the minerals from the subset.

43

Note:

subset

6. transfers the matchedlidentified minerals to the subset.

7. writes the names of the minerals of the subset.
Subsets have been created so that restricted groups of minerals can be
examined. This may be useful for teaching purposes or when it is known
that only a restricted number of minerals need be considered in a particular
application. For example, subsets of ore minerals and meteoritic minerals
could be created. Use of such subsets can cut the processing time and costs
dramatically.

subset parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (parameter) ... SUB set (parameter) ...
Semantics: tabulates da ta for the parameters of the minerals in the subset. See the
subset command.

sum

sum parameter
Syntax:
tabulate SUM
Semantics: tabulates the sum of the concentrations of all the elements present in the
mineral.

symmetry

symmetry parameter
Syntax:

1.
2.
3.
{symmetry:}

SYMmetry
SYMmetry = {symmetry} ...
tabulate SYMmetry
Cubic (=Isometric), TETragonal, TRIGonal, Hexagonal,
Orthorhombic, Monoclinic, TRIClinic
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown symmetries.
2. assigns them.
3. tabulates them.
Example: sym = tetragonal, trigonal ,hexagonal
Note:
Could be used to list all minerals having any of these symmetries, Le., all
opticaBy uniaxial minerals. If a mineral can have more than one symmetry,
"multiple" will be shown as the symmetry in the display or tablulation.

table

tabulate

table synonym for tabulate

tabu la te command
Syntax:
Tabulate ({parameters}) ...
Synonym: Table
Semantics: tabulates the parameters for the minerals that are specified, that were
matched or identified, that are in the mineral subset, or aB of them.

Commands

44

{parameters}:

A .................................................................... unit cell edge a

ALL ............................... tabulate data for all minerals in da ta base
ALPha ............................................................ unit cell angle a
ANGles ................................................... unit cell angles a, , y
AVErage .......................... tabulate average compiled data (default)
B .................................................................... unit cell edge b
BETa .............................................................. unit cell angle
BIRefringence ................................................... maximum value
C .................................................................... unit cell edge c
CM .............................................. compositional matching index
COLour ............................ colour scheme tabulated under c(alpha)
COLOURS ............................................ colou~ , colouh ' coloury
COLOUR(Alpha) ................................. pleochroism in X direction
COLOUR(Beta) ................................... pleochroism in Y direction
COLOUR(Epsilon) ................................... tabulated under c(beta)
COLOUR(Gamma) .............................. pleochroism in Z direction
COLOUR(Omega) ................................. tabulated under c(alpha)
COOrdination {fe} ...................................................... of cation
D- Value .................................................... .interplanar spacings
DA Ta ...................................................... compiled or unknown
DATE ............................................................... last modified
DEFault ........................... name tm {specified in unknown} formula
DENsity ........................................................................ g/cc
DIMensions .................... unit cell edges a, b, c and anglesa , and y
DISpersion .......................................... red>violet or vilolet>red
DIVision ................................................. in classification system
FORmula ................................................ idealized or simplified
GAMma .......................................................... unit cell angle y
IM ................................................. .information matching index
INDices ............................................ tm, cm, opm and im indices
JCPds .................................................. Powder data file number
LENgth {len} ............................... of tabulated name, formula, etc.
LEVel .................................................... in classification system
LOCality ...................... geographicallocations where mineral found
MAXimum ................................. tabulate maximum compiled da ta
MINimum ................................... tabulate minimum compiled data
MOH ......................................... position on Mohs hardness scale
N .............................................................. index of refraction
N(Alpha) .................................. index of refraction in X direction
N(Beta) .................................... index of refraction in Y direction
N(Epsilon) ............................................ tabulated under n(beta)
N(Gamma) ................................ .index of refraction in Z direction
N(Omega) ........................................... tabulated under n(alpha)
NAMe ......................... IMA accepted name and unknown identifier
NUMber .................................................. row numbers of table
OAP .............................................................. optic axial plane
OCCurrence ................ , ........ paragenesis or geological environment
OF {minerals} .............................. tabulate parameters for minerals
OPM .......................................... other properties matching index
POLymorphs .............................. known to exist for the compound
PBAse ............................................................ proportion basis
PSUm ............................................................. proportion sum
REFlectance ......................... r470nm, r546nm, r589nm and r650nm
R470nm .................................................... reflectance at 470nm
I

Commands

45

R546nm .................................................... reflectance at 546nm

R589nm .................................................... reflectance at 589nm
R650nm .................................................... reflectance at 650nm
REFraction ......................................................... ?t, Hand ny
REMarks ..................................................... relevant comments
SAMples ................................. tabulate parameters for sample data
SIGn ....................................................... optical sign ( + or -)
SOUr ce ............................................................. source of data
SPCgrp ................................................................ space group
SUBset ................................ tabulate parameters for mineral subset
SUM .................................................... sum of element weights
SYMmetry ......................................................... crystal system
TM .......................................................... total matching index
TYPe .............................................. silicate, oxide, arsenide, etc.
UNKnown ................................. tabu la te parameters for unknown
VHN .................................................. Vickers hardness number
Weight {FeO} ............................................. composition {of FeO}
YFD ................................................ year mineral first described
2V(Alpha) ................................................. tabu la ted under 2Vy
2V(gamma) ............................ angle between optic axes (across y)
Examples: 1.
2.
3.
Explanation:

tabulate name density w Si02 w A1203

tabulate w K w Ca formula of biotite hornblende plagioclase
tabulate
1. The names, densities and weights of Si0 2 and Al 20 3 of aB matched
or identified minerals will be tabulated.
2. The formulae and the weights for K and Ca in biotite, hornblende
and plagioclase in the compiled data base will be tabu la ted
3. Default parameters for identified or matched minerals will be
tabulated.

time

time synonym for date

tlist

tlist command
TUST
Syntax:
Semantics: lists the mineral types. See the type command. Listing may be stopped by
hitting the attention key.

tm

tm parameter

Syntax:
tabulate TM
Semantics: tabulates the total matching (TM) index. This index is calculated from the
weighted average of the other indices (CM, IM, OPM). This index is used to
order the top 20 minerals for identification purposes. The weighting given to
each index may be changed from time to time to improve discrimination
between minerals.

Commands

46

tree

tree command
Syntax:
TREE {mineral} (Full) (Alternate)
Semantics: A "tree" is drawn for a mineral showing its position in the classification
system. Trees normally have the following form:

(D is abnormal being)
(within 2 divisions)

/1\ / \

/ C D

/ / /1

F G H I

- SPECIES level
E

- SUB-SPECIES level
- VARIETIES level

Minldent prints trees sideways. A path from the mineral to the top of
the tree is shown. A few minerals, such as D above, have two possible paths
upwards. For such minerals, which will be postscripted by an ".", only one
path will be traced. To trace the other path, specify "alternate". Also, all
the minerals one levellower will be shown. To see the minerals more than
one levellower, specify "fuH". Note: F is considered one levellower than

A.
Example:

tree albite
TREEA
A species
F variety
C sub-species
D sub-species

type

TREEAFULL
A species
F variety
C sub-species
G variety
D sub-species
H variety
I variety

TREEH
A species
D sub-species
H variety

TREE H AL TERNA TE
B species
D sub-species
H variety

type parameter

1. TYPe
2. TYPe={typel
3. tabulate TYPe
Semantics: 1. displays the mineral or unknown type (e.g., oxides, silicates, etc.).
2. assigns it. The tUst command can be used to list the allowable types.
3. tabulates it.
Example: type = arsenides

Syntax:

unknown

unknown command
Syntax:

1. Unknown
2. Unknown Edit
Semantics: 1. Data for the unknown (mineral to be identified or matched) can be
added, Le., all unknown data initially null.
2. Data for the unknown can be edited, Le., aH previously entered
unknown data values not erased.
Note:
Minldent will enter the "Unknown input" request loop if request=off, or

Commands

47

will request aB the unknown parameters if request = on.

unknown

unknown parameter
Syntax:
tabulate (parameters) ... UNKnown (parameters) ...
Semantics: tabulates data for the unknown parameters specified.
Note:
Most unknown parameters have minimum and maximum values tabulated.

unload

unload variable
UNLOAD= ({value})
True, Yes, ON
False, No, OFf
Semantics: If unload is on, then MinIdent will be unloaded after a stop command (and
cannot be restarted ). If off, then the stop command will return to MTS, and
a $START or $RESTART command will cause execution of MinIdent to
resume.
unload=on
Default:

Syntax:
{value}

VHN

VHN parameter

Syntax:

1. VHN
2. VHN = {range}
3. tabulate VHN
Semanties: l. displays the unknown Vicker's hardness number (VHN) measured using
a 100g load.
2. assigns it.
3. tabulates it.
Units:
0 - 10000 (scale)

weight

weight parameters
Syntax
examples: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Weight
Weight OXides
Weight NULL
Weight SCALE
Weight SUM
Weight Fe203
Weight Fe203 = {range}
Weight Fe203= TRACE
Weight Fe203= MINOR
Weight Fe203 = MAJOR
Weight Fe203=NULL
Weight Fl- = {range}
Weight Mn = 75ppm-80ppm

Commands

48

14.
Semanties: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Note:

year -first described

tabulate Weight Fe203 Weight Mn Weight F1displays the weights of all elements in elemental form.
displays the weights of all elements in oxide form.
erases the weights of aB elements.
scales the weights to sum to 100.0%.
displays the sum of the weights.
displays the weight of Fe 20).
adds the weight to Fe 20).
adds 0.0 to min and 1.0 to max weight% of Fe 20).
adds 0.1 to min and 5.0 to max weight% of Fe 20).
adds 3.0 to min and 100 to max weight% of Fe203.
erases the weights of Fe and O. This could have undesirable
consequences because oxygen associated with aB elements will be
deleted. It is better to use form 3) and then re-enter the weights.
12. assigns the weight to Fand subtracts the oxygen equivalent from O.
13. is equivalent to Mn=0.0075-0.0080.
14. tabulates the weight% of Fe 203, Mn and P-.
Unlike other parameters, weight assignments are added to previous values
rather than replacing them. This is done so that a composition of FeO= 5
and Fe 203=7 could be entered. Otherwise, the amount of Fe corresponding
to Fe 20 3= 7 would replace the previous amount. The value of the case
variable affects the processing of formulae. Weights are always in
percentages, not as weight fractions and the percent symbol (%) is omitted.
Weights are displayed in elemental form.

yearfirstdescribed parameter
Syntax:
tabulate YEAr-first -described
Synonym: YFD
Semantics: tabulates the year the mineral was first described.

YFD

2V -

2V(alpha)

YFD synonym for year-first-described

2V- synonym for 2V(alpha)

2V(alpha) parameter
Syntax:

1. 2V(Alpha)
2. 2V(Alpha) = {rangel
3. tabulate 2V(Alpha)
Synonyms: 2VAlpha, 2V -, 2VX
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown 2V - the optic axial angle measured across the X
vibration direction in a n%neral.
2. assigns it. It will automaticaBy be converted to 2Vy by the pro gram . See
angle entry.
3. tabulates it in the 2V(gamma) column of the table.

Commands

49
Units:
Example:

2V(gamma)

0.0 - 180.0 degrees

2v(alpha) =65-85

2V(gamma) parameter
1. 2V(Gamma)
2.2V(gamma)={rangeJ
3. tabulate 2V(gamma)
Synonyms: 2Vgamma, 2V +, 2VZ
Semantics: 1. displays the unknown 2Vy - the optic axial angle measured across the Z
vibration direction.
2. assigns it. See angle entry.
3. tabulates it.
Units:
0.0 - 180.0 degrees
Example: 2v(gamma) = 55
Syntax:

2V +

2Valpha

2Vgamma

2V + synonym for 2V(gamma)

2Valpha synonym for 2V(alpha)

2Vgamma synonym for 2V(gamma)

2VX

2VX synonym for 2V(alpha)

2VZ

2VZ synonym for 2V(gamma)

Commands

50

DEFINITIONS

angle

angle entry
Examples: 12 .............................................................................. 12 degrees
12.5 ............................................................. 12 degrees, 30 minutes
12:30 ........................................................... 12 degrees, 30 minutes
12: 34.5 ......................................... 12 degrees, 34 minu tes, 30 seconds
12:34:30 ........................................ 12 degrees, 34 minutes, 30 seconds
12:34:56.7 ................................... 12 degrees, 34 minutes, 56.7 seconds

batch

batch file
Input to MinIdent can be entered by the user from a keyboard or from a batch file.
Input from the batch file is treated as if it came from the user, except that if an error
occurs, batch pause read in or if the attention key is hit. then the user regains control.
At this point. the user can correct the mistake and then issue the continue command to
have input resurne from the batch file. The batch command directs MinIdent to take
input from the batch file. This feature was added so that data fOT MinIdent could be
prepared in advance and placed cheaply into a file through the system editor. The name
of the batch file is arbitrary. See the file DPLl:BD.MIN for an example. An instructor
could place messages to his students and initialisation commands in a batch file.

colour

colour entry
Colours entered for pleochroic. dichroic and colour schemes should be as follows:
({shade}) ({colour}) {colourJ
Syntax:
Dark, Deep, D
{shade} :
PALe, Light, L
{colour} : BLAck, BK
BLUe, BLUish, BU
BRownish, BR
Colourless, Colorless, CL
GREEnish, GN
GREYish, GY
IR (opaque with Intern al ReDections)
LILac. LL
OPaque,OP
Orange,OR
Plnkish, PK
PUrpie, PUrplish, PP
Redish, RD
Violet, VT
White, WT

Definitions

51
Yellowish, YL
Examples: green
pale green
bluish green
light bluish green
Note:
Blue green is a different colour from green blue. Also, the use of the "ish"
ending has no effect, Le., green and greenish are equivalent. For shades, the
last single letter abbreviation, and for colours, the last two letter
abbreviations are the on es used in displays and tabulations.

command

command
Any statement that can be recognized by Minldent is considered a command. For
example,
den = 3.45
commands Minldent to set the value of the density parameter of a mineral sam pie to
3.45.
Multiple commands can appear on the same input line if they are separated by the
"I" symbol. Commands can be continued onto more input lines by appending a hyphen
"- " to the line to be continued. The following are all equivalent examples:

1. density = 304
symmetry = monoclinic
2. density = 3 o4lsymmetry = monoclinic
3. density = 3 o4lsymmetry = monoclinic
4. density = -13 Alsymmetry = -Imonoclinic

continuation

continuation of long lines

Consider the following input to MinIdent:
re marks = This mineral has not been found to occur as
remarks = discrete crystals but only intergrown with related
remarks=species in the form of polycrystals.
It will not acheive what was desired because each line will erase the previous entry for
remarks which will thus contain only "species in the form of polycrystals." Now
consider the f ollowing input:

remarks=This mineral has not been found to occur as discrete crystals but ...
This also may not achieve the desired effect because most systems cannot handle such
long lines. They usually truncate them, and only the beginning or end portion will be
placed in the parameter remarks. To solve this problem, append a dash ( -) to any
incomplete line and continue with the input on the next line. The correct solution would
be:
remarks = This mineral has not been f ound to occur asdiscrete crystals but only intergrown with relatedspecies in the form of polycrystals.

Definitions

52

Note:

defaults

A dash should not be used here to split up a word as it would be replaced by

aspace.

defaults
If a blank line (enter key) is entered, MinIdent will ass urne that the default shown was
meant to be entered. See requests. Defaults in form Minldent not to change values. For
numeric values, empty spaces (before commas) denote defaults. For example, to change
the fourth d -value to 5.3 and leave the first, second, third and fifth unchanged, enter:
d-values= , , ,5.3

development

development charges
To pay for the further refinement of the Minldent program and for the entry of
additional data into the da ta base, a development charge of some fraction of the MTS
soft costs will be levied. This rate, where applicable, will be printed out when the
program is run.

editing

editing data
Normally, data is added to the data base. For example:
density = 3.456
However, if data has been incorrect1y entered, then it must be edited. If the correct
density value is 3.546, then, to replace the old value with the new, enter
density = 3.546
To edit unknown data, enter: unknown edit

mineral

mineral
A mineral has been defined as a naturally occurring solid, element or compound with a
characteristic intern al (atomic) structure and a chemical composition wh ich is either
fixed or which varies within certain definite limits. In deciding what materials to include
in the data base, this definition has been used. Thus, materials such as amber or coal,
palagonite, leucoxene, etc., will be excluded.

mineral data

mineral da ta
Mineral data consist of data wh ich are common to all samples of a mineral. The
following are mineral parameters:
CLAssify ......................................................... classification level and divisions
COOrdinations .............................................................................. of cations
D- Values ....................................................................... .interplanar spacings

Definitions

53

FORmula .................................................................... idealized or simplified

JCPDS ......................... Powder Data File number from Joint Committee on Powder
Diffraction Standards
MLOcation .................................. geographicallocations where mineral was found
MOCcurrence .............................. paragenisis or geological environment of mineral
MREmarks ....................................................... relevant comments for mineral
MSOurce ............................................................................... source of da ta
NAMe ........................................................................... IMA accepted name
POLymorphs .................................................. known to exist for this compound
PBAse ................................ proportion basis used in calculating atomic proportions
PSUm ................................. proportion sum used in calculating atomic proportions
SA VE ............................................ transfer mineral da ta to data base if modified
SPCgrp .................................................................................... space group
SYMmetry ............................................................................. crystal system
TYPe .................................................................. silicate, oxide, arsenide, etc.
YFD .............................................................................. year first described

MTS

MTS
The Michigan Terminal System is the operating system on which Minldent was
developed.

precision

precision
Minldent does not keep track of the number of digits entered for a value. As a result
12, 12., 12.0, 12.00, 12.000, 12.0000, ete.
are all equivalent. On output, Minldent rounds off numbers to an arbitrary three digits
after the decimal point. However, trailing zeros, unless directly following a decimal
point, are deleted for purely aesthetic reasons. For example, 12.3456 would be displayed
as 12.346,12.3000 as 12.3 and 12.0000 as 12.0.

range

range
For unknown parameters, a {range} can be replaced as follows:
press enter key ........................................ leave min and max va lues unchanged
NULL ............................................................... erase min and max values
10 ...................................................... assign 10 1% as min and max va lues
10 - 20 ................................................ assign 10 as min and 20 as max values

requests

requests
All requests made by Minldent take the following form:
)request "default "?
The right pa ren thesis ")" denotes output fra m Minldent. The "request " is the request

Definitions

54

fer input made by Minldent. The double quotes enclose the default that MinIdent will
assume if nothing is entered. The "?" indicates that MinIdent is waiting fer input.
Note: In cases where two quotation marks follow one another, there is no default
response as in:
)Minident command" "?

set.min

set .min file

This file contains the values of the user variables. If the file does not exist, default
values will be used.

synonyms

synonyms
Minident has a list of mineral synonyms and discredited minerals. Whenever a mineral
name is entered, it is first checked against this list. If on the list, then this is pointed out
and the name is corrected if it is a synonym.

variables

variables
All users have access to several variables that affect the MinIdent procedures. They are
batchprint, case, cutoff, output and unload. The status command will display the values
of the user's variables.

Definitions

55

SAMPLE SESSIONS

The following are sam pIe sessions of all MinIdent procedures. In all cases, boldface will
represent user entry.

Sampie Sessions

56

SampIe Sessions

57

display command
#$run unsp:Minldent
#17:19:32

)*****************************************************************
)***
M I N I DEN T
(ident section)
***
)*****************************************************************
)(C) Copyright D. P. Leibovitz and D. G. W. Srnith, 1983.
)
)Ident cornmand""? display compiled hornblende
)Ident command""? stop

)*****************************************************************

Sample Sessions

961THoRNBLENDE-~~~ci;~-of'sILicATEs
111:00:01MAR 27, 1986
Record:
Formula: (Ca Na K)2-3(Ma Fe2+ Fe3+ AI)5(Si AI)8022[OH]2
Svmmetrv: Monoclinic
I JCPDS: 29-1258IDlsDersion: R>V v>RI
ISDace GrouD: C2/m
Type: SILICATES
40
IVear First Described: 1789 Samples: 40lGenerals: 21Total Samples:
c
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
EllWt Min IWt Ave IWt Max IStd DevlAt ProD ICoord
a
b
40.476 43.596 46.949
1.421 24.000*
9.880 18.000
5.300
105.000
0
5.315 90.000 105.250 90.000
Si
18.361 21. 841 25.368
1.688
6.849
4
9.890 18.010
Fe
0.171
11.337 22.497
4.810
6 8
9.900 18.020
5.330
105.500
1.788
VHN
7.033
n(alph) n(beta) n(gamm) Density
MOH
8.336
9.906
0.648
1.832
8
Ca
1.610
5.0
1.677
7.878 15.331
2.780
2.854
6
1.610
1.618
3.02
Mg
5.5
1.672
3.154
Al
2.064
4.501
7.886
1.484
1.469
4 6
1.651
1.664
6
1.705
1.730
3.45
6.0
Cr
0.000
1.143
3.202
0.194
1.714
OAP
0.364
1.736
12
R(470) R(546) R(589) R(650) 2V(gam)
Na
0.865
0.350
0.331
//(010)
0.486
6
67.5
Ti
0.000
0.644
2.278
0.118
105.6
K
0.000
0.494
1.403
0.364
0.111
12
6
153.0
Mn
0.000
0.216
1.007
0.197
0.035
0.031
C(alph) C(beta) C(gamm) d-vals.
H
0.208
0.300
0.058
1.820
8.52
F
0.000
0.187
0.530
0.218
0.087
Cl
l VI Gn l Gn
6
VI Gn
l Br Gn Bu Gn
3.16
V
0.000
0.050
0.050
0.009
2.73
l Bu Gn
Cl
0.000
l VI
VI Gn
0.035
0.050
0.009
0.000
l VI Br l Gn
Br
3.41
P
0.031
0.074
0.029
0.009
6
Gn Br
VI Br
2.61
Ni
0.000
0.016
0.016
0.002
l Br
Rd Br
l VI
70.176 101.379 138.582
41.517
Sources:Rock Forming Minerals. Deer, Howie & Zussman. vols. 1-5, ~1962!
Col1ection number~s!:
Po I :imoq~hs :
Remarks: Ca-amphibole group. See alsp tschermakite, pargasite, hastingsite and edenlte. One
anal:isis includes 1-2% ~idote.
Occurrence: Comman in igneous and metamorphic rocks. In gabbros. In amphibolites. In ultrabasic
rocks. In metamorphosed limestones. In hornblendite. In actinolite-chlorite schists. In
hornblende-mica ~eridotites. In guartz-orthoclase-~lagtoclase-hornblende rocks. In bahi alte.
location(s): Celledizzo, Italy. Turkey. Eric Harbour, Baffin Is., Canada. Karungalpatti, Madras,
India. Pamrnal HilI, Madras, India. Ankogel, Salzburg, Austria. Prieska district, Cape Province,
S.Africa. Cooma District, New South Wales, Australia. lillfjallsgruvan, Sweden. Grovstanas,
Sweden. Garabal Hi 11, Argyllsire, Scotland. GIen Tilt, Perthshire, Scotland. Glenelg-Ratagain,
Inverness-shire, Scotland. Elklon, Penn., U.S.A. Hindubagh, Baluchistan. Sekimoto-mura, Ibaragi
Prefecture. Japan.
~:::I-.

--------

58

59
identify command
#$run unsp:Minldent
#14:56:42

)*****************************************************************
)***
M I N I DEN T
(Ident section)
***
)*****************************************************************
)(C) Copyright D. P. Leibovitz and D. G. W. Smith,

1983.

)Ident command""? unknown

)Unknown input""? w 0=43
)Unknown input""? w Si=18
)Unknown input""? w Fe=9
)Unknown input""? w Ca=8
)Unknown input""? w AI=7
)Unknown input""? w Mg=7
)Unknown input""? w Ti=5
)Unknown input""? w Na=3
)Unknown input""? w K=O.5
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? identify
)3742 minerals examined,
0 ignored, top 20 identified.
)Ident command""? tabulate name tm formula
Page:
1 of Table
IName
KAERSUTITE
BASALTIC-HORNBLENDE
FERRO-KAERSUTITE
FERRO-PARGASITE
FERRO-FERRI-TSCHERMA
SODIUM-GEDRITE
TSCHERMAKITE
HASTINGSITE
FERRO-HORNBLENDE
MAGNESIO-HORNBLENDE
MAGNESIOKATOPHORITE
RHONITE
TI TANAUGI TE
AUGITE
HORNBLENDE
FASSAlTE
PLAGIOCLASE
OMPHACITE
BARKEVIKITE
PARGASITE

I TM
99.6
95.8
94.5
93.7
90.8
89.7
88.2
86.9
85.6
85.6
85.0
84.9
84.8
84.1
82.7
81.5
80.6
80.6
80.3
79.9

IFormula
NaCa2(Mg,Fe)4TiSi6A12022[OH]2
Ca2(Na,K)0.5-1(Mg,Fe2+)3-4(Fe3+,A
NaCa2(Fe2+,Mg)4TiSi6A12022
NaCa2(Fe2+,Mg)4AlSi6A12022[OH]2
Ca2(Fe2+,Mg)3Fe3+2Si6A12022[OH]2
Na(Mg,Fe2+)6A1Si6A12022[OH]2
Ca2(Mg,Fe2+)3A12Si6A12022[OH]2
NaCa2(Fe2+,Mg)4Fe3+Si6A12022[OH]2
Ca2(Fe2+,Mg)4A1Si7AI022(OH,F)2
Ca2(Mg,Fe2+)4A1Si7AI022(OH,F)2
Na2CaMg4(Fe3+,Al)Si7Al022(OH,F)2
Ca2(Fe2+,Fe3+,Mg,Ti)6(Si,Al)6020
(Ca,Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Ti,Al)2(Si,Al)20
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(Si,Al)206
(Ca,Na,K)2-3(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)5(Si
Ca(Mg,Fe3+,Al)(Si,Al)206
(Na,Ca)Al(Al,Si)Si208
(Ca,Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)03
Ca2(Fe2+,Mg)4A1Si7AI022(OH,F)2
NaCa2(Mg,Fe2+)4A1Si6A12022[OH]2

)Ident command""? unknown

)Unknown input""? d-values=2.7, 3.1, 8.4
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? identify and
) 20 minerals examined,
8 ignored, top 12 identified.
)Ident command""? tabulate name tm d-values

SampIe Sessions

60
Page:

1 of Table

---------------------------------------------------------

IName

I TM

d-values

--------------------------------------------------------KAERSUTITE
90.3
2.69 3 . 1 1 8.38 3.36 2.548
FERRO-PARGASITE
3. 15 2.72 2.61 2.57
89.3
8.5
HASTINGSITE
85.5
8.43 3. 13 2 . 7 1 3.39 3.28
TSCHERMAKITE
84.9
2.7
3.09 3.38
HORNBLENDE
84.6
8.52 3. 16 2.73 3.41 2 . 6 1
MAGNESIO-HORNBLENDE 82.4
3. 1
3.26 2.7
8.4
2.79
BARKEVIKITE
2.7
79.8
3.09 3.38 3.29 2.59
PARGASITE
77.0
3. 12 8.43 3.27 2.93 2.7
2.54 2.58 2.97 2.56
FASSAlTE
3.0
66.0
AUGITE
2.96 6.45 3.0
3.23 1. 62
65.8
RHONITE
62.2
2.95 2.55 2.69 2.09 1.5
OMPHACITE
52.4
2. 13 2. 12 2.02
2.98 1.4

)Ident command""?

stop

)*****************************************************************

Sample Sessions

61
match command
#$run unsp:Minldent
#Execution begins
12:44:44

}*****************************************************************
}***
M I N I DEN T
(ident section)
***
}*****************************************************************
}(C) Copyright D. P. Leibovitz and D. G. W. Smith, 1983.
}

}Ident command""?
unknown
}Unknown input""?
moh=9-10
}Unknown input""?
save
}Ident command""?
match
}3658 minerals examined, 623 ignored, 3030 not matched, 5 matched.
)Ident command""?
tabulate name moh density formula
Page:
1 Table of matched data.
MOH

IName
BROMELLITE
CORUNDUM
DIAMOND
KARELIANITE
MOISSANITE

IDensitylFormula

9.0
9.0
10 0

9.0
9.5

3.017
3.941
3.514
4.87
3.218

BeO
A1203
C

V203
SiC

)Ident command""?
unknown
)Unknown input""?
weight 0=5-100
}Unknown input""?
save
}Ident command""?
match and
}5 minerals examined, 0 ignored, 2 not matched, 3 matched.
)Ident command""?
table name w Be w Al w V w 0 w Fe203 symmetry
Page:
1 Table of matched data.
IName

IBe

BROMELLITE
CORUNDUM
KARELIANITE
}Ident command""?

10

lAI

36.032
51.502

0.0
67.976

IFe203
63.968
46.757
32.024

ISymmetry I

Hexagonal
0.932 Trigonal
Trigonal

stop

}*****************************************************************

Sample Sessions

62

match d-values
#$run unsp:Minldent
#Execution begins
13:53:20
)*****************************************************************
)***
M I N I DEN T
(ident section)
***
)*****************************************************************
)(C) Copyright D. P. Leibovitz and D. G. W. Smith, 1983.
)

*match to find the minerals with the following d-values:

*
3.55, 6.15, 2.51, 2.03, 2.325
)Ident command""? unknown
)Unknown input""? d-values=3.5-3.6
)Unknown input""? save
) I dent command '!I'? match
)3787 minerals examined, 0 ignored, 3360 not matched, 427 matched.
)Ident command""? unknown edit
)Unknown input""? d-values=,6.1-6.2
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? match and
)427 minerals examined, 0 ignored, 415 not matched, 12 matched.
)Ident command""? output terminal
)Ident command""? tabulate name d-values
Page:
1 Table for matchedjidentified minerals
d-values
IName
-----------------------------------------------------------ALUMINOCOPIAPITE
9.2
18. 1
5.58
6. 17
3.58
COPIAPITE
18 . 1
6. 17
9.2
5.58
3.58
HOELITE
3.52
7.69
3.36
6. 16
3.84
MAGNESIOCOPIAPITE
18 . 1
5.58
6. 17
3.58
9.2
PARALSTONITE
3.55
2.51
2.05
6. 15
1. 94
10.79
8. 12
3.74
PARTHEITE
6. 1
3.6
3.41
ROGGIANITE
13.08
9.27
6. 13
3.6
TUGTUPITE
3.57
2.5
2.02
3.52
6. 13
UM-123
6. 14
19.5
9.3
5.63
3.52
2.77
UM-259
7.3
11.6
6. 19
3.5
11.58
2.77
URANOSILITE
7.3
6. 19
3.5
ZINCOCOPIAPITE
9.25
6.2
5.57
3.55
3.49

Sample Sessions

63
)Ident command""? unknown edit
)Unknown input""? d-values=,,2.46-2.S6
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? match and
)12 minerals examined, 0 ignored, 10 not matched, 2 matched.
)Ident command""? tabulate name d-values
Page:
1 Table for matchedjidentified minerals
d-values

IName
PARALSTONITE
TUGTUPITE
I

3.55
3.52

251

6. 13

2.05
3.57

6. 15

2.5

1. 94
2.02

)Ident command""? unknown edit

)Unknown input""? d-values=",2.98-2.08
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? match and
)2 minerals examined, 0 ignored, 0 not matched, 2 matched.
)Ident command''''? unknown edit
)Unknown input""? d-values=",,2.27S-2.375
)Unknown input""? d-values
)Contains: 3.5-3.6,6.1-6.2,2.46-2.56,2.08-2.98,2.275-2.375
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? match and
)2 minerals examined, 0 ignored, 2 not matched, 0 matched.
*because the analyst missed a d-value and included an extra one
*not in the data base, both possibilities were rejected. If all 5
*d-values are used, IDENTIFY will normally be a much safer procedure
*to use than match - but also much more expensive!
)Ident command""? stop
)*****************************************************************

Sample Sessions

64

match to find Be bearing minerals

#$run unsp:Minldent
#17:58:12
)*****************************************************************
)***
M I N I DEN T
(ident section) ***
)*****************************************************************
)(C) Copyright D. P. Leibovitz and D. G. W. Smith, 1983.
)

)Ident command""? unknown

*find all Be silicate minerals
)Unknown input""? w Be=O.5-100
)Unknown input""? w Si=5.0-100
)Note: the sum of the weights is a large 200.000%.
*200% comes from adding the maximum values
*for the above concentrations
)Unknown input''''? w sum
)The sum of all the weight percentages is
5.500-200.000
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? match
)3787 minerals examined, 0 ignored, 3735 not matched, 52 matched.
*in the following table, the weight of BeO is the average compiled
*weight. A number of minerals are listed below which are not
*Be-Si-minerals in the sense that Be and Si are incidental rather
*than essential components. Hence, Be or Si does not appear in the
*tabulated formulae for such minerals (e.g., allanite, idocrase).
) Ident command''''? tabulate name BeO formula
Page:
1 Table for matched/identified minerals
IName
ALLANITE
AMESITE
AMINOFFITE
ASBECASITE
BARYLITE
BAVENITE
BAZZITE
BERTRANDITE
BERYL
BERYLL I TE
BERYLLIUM-MARGARITE
BITYITE
BOWLEYITE
CHI AVENNITE
CHKALOVITE
DANALITE
EPIDIDYMITE
EUCLASE
EUDI DYMI TE
GADOLINITE
GADOLINITE-(CE)
GENTHELVITE
GUGIAITE

Sample Sessions

IBeO
1. 31
4.277
6.2
2.3
15.89
6. 11 1
13.8
41.407
12.525
40.0
2.28
4.972
7.675
9.3
12.67
13.407
11 .088
18.82
10 . 751
9. 155
8.83
12.785
9. 19

I Formula
(Ce,Ca,Y)2(Al,Fe)3[Si04]30H
Ca2(Be,Al)Si2070H:H20
Ca2(Be,Al)Si2070H:H20
Ca3(Ti,Sn)As6Si2Be2020
BaBe2Si207
Ca4Be2A12Si9026[OH]2
Be3(Sc,Al)2Si6018
Be4Si207[OH]2
Be3A12Si6018
Be3Si04[OH]2:H20
(Ca,Mg,Fe2+,Ba)(Li,Na,K)0.25(Al,Fe3+
CaLiA12A1BeSi2010[OH]2
CaLiA12A1BeSi2010[OH]2
CaMnBe2Si5013[OH]2:2H20
Na2BeSi206
Fe4Be3Si3012S
NaBeSi2070H
BeA1Si040H
NaBeSi3070H
Y2Fe2+Be2Si2010
(Ce,La,Nd,Y)2Fe2+Be2Si2010
(Zn,Fe,Mn)8Be6Si6024S2
(Ca,Na)2Be(Si,Al)2(O,OH,F)7

65
HARSTIGITE
HASTINGSITE
HELBERTRANDITE
HELVINE
HELVITE
HELVITE1
HINGGANITE
HINGGANITE-(YB)
HSIANGHUALITE
HYALOTEKITE
IDOCRASE
JOESMITHITE
KARPINSKYITE
LEIFITE
LEUCOPHANE
LIBERITE
LOVDARITE
MELI PHANI TE
MILARITE
PHENACITE
SEMENOVITE
SORENSENITE
SPHEROBERTRANDITE
SURINAMITE
TRIMERITE
TUGTUPITE
UM-256
VOROBIEVITE
WELSHITE

19.732
1 1 . 37
34. 16
13 .4 1
13.197
13 0 1
10 5

10.767
16.04
0.75
0.727
5.769
2.58
3.8
10.978
25.47
6.9
10.447
5.249
43.86
8.25
7.725
45.2
4.361
17.08
5.35
41.012
11.2
4.0

Ca6(Mn,Mg)Be4Si6(O,OH)24
Ca6(Mn,Mg)Be4Si6(O,OH)24
(Be,Ca)4(Si,Al)207[OH]2:3H20
(Mn,Fe,Zn)8Be6Si6024S2
Mn4Be3[Si04]3S
Mn4Be3[Si04]3S
(Y,Yb)BeSi040H
(Yb,Y)BeSi040H
Ca3Li2Be3[Si04]3F2
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)6(B,Si,Al)2(Si,Be)10028(
Ca10Mg2A14[Si04]5[Si207]2[OH]4
(Ca,Pb)(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+)5Si6Be2022[OH]2
Na2(Be,Zn,Mg)A12Si6016[OH]2
(Na,H30)2(Si,Al,Be,B)7(O,OH,F)14
(Ca,Na)2BeSi2(O,F,OH)7
Li2BeSi04
(Na,K,Ca)4(Be,Al)2Si6016:4H20
(Ca,Na)2Be(Si,Al)2(O,OH,F)7
K2Ca4A12Be4Si24060:H20
Be2Si04
(Ca,Ce,La,Na)10-12(Fe,Mn)(Si,Be)20(O
Na4SnBe2Si6016[OH]4
Be5(Si,Al,Fe3+)207[OH]4
(Mg,Fe2+)3A14BeSi3016
(Ca,Mn)BeSi04
Na4BeA1Si4012Cl
Be:?Si02
Be3A12Si6018
Ca2Mg4Fe3+02Si4Be2018

)Ident command""? stop

)*****************************************************************

Sample Sessions

66
table command
#$run unsp:Minldent
#Execution begins
17:03:03

)*****************************************************************
)***
M I N I DEN T
(ident section)
***
)*****************************************************************
)(C) Copyright D. P. Leibovitz and D. G. W. Smith, 1983.
)

)Ident command""? unknown

)Unknown input""? density=16-25
)Unknown input""? save
)Ident command""? match
)3766 minerals examined, 790 ignored, 2967 not matched, 9 matched.
)Ident command""? tabulate name density formula
Page:
1 Table for matched/identified minerals
IName
BESSMERTNOVITE
GOLD
IRIDIUM
IRIDOSMINE
IRIDOSMINE-1
IRIDOSMINE-2
OSMIUM
PLATINIRIDIUM
SISERSKITE

IDensitylFormula
16. 3
16.969
22.66
19.29
21.0
21.0
22.58
20.0
19.107

Au4Cu(Te,Pb)
Au
Ir
(Ir,Os)
(I r , Os)
( Ir, Os)
[Os]0.8-1[Ir]0-0.2
(I r , Pt)
(Os,Ir)

)Ident command""? t name moh for gold iridium platiniridium

Page:
1 Table for specified minerals
IName
GOLD
IRIDIUM
PLATINIRIDIUM

MOH
3.0
6.5
7.0

)Ident command""? t w FeO w Fe203 w Al203 w Si02 w F of hornblende

Page:
1 Table for specified minerals
IFeO
IFe203 IAl203
ISi02
IF
--------------------------------------1 14.5851 16.2091 8.5041 46.7251 0.18 7 1

Sample Sessions

67

)Ident command""? table name formula all

Page:
1 Table for all minerals
IName

IFormula

ABELSONITE
C31H32N4Ni
ABERNATHYITE
KU02As04:4H20
(U,Ca,Y,Ce)(Ti,Fe)206
ABSITE
ACANTHITE
Ag2S
ACETAMIDE
CH3CONH2
ACHAVALITE
FeSe
ACMITE
NaFe3+Si206
Ca2(Mg,Fe2+)5Si8022[OH]2
ACTINOLITE
ADAM I TE
Zn2As040H
CaMgAs040H
ADELITE
Mg2B12020:15H20
ADMONTITE
ADULARIA
KA1Si308
NaFe3+Si206
AEGIRINE
(Na,Ca)(Fe3+,Fe2+,Mg,Al)Si206
AEGIRINE-AUGITE
Na2Fe2+5TiSi6020
AENIGMATITE
AERUGITE
Ni9As3016
)Ident command""? *NOTE: attention pressed during listing
)Ident command""? stop

)*****************************************************************

Sample Sessions

68

unknown command - request=on

#$run unsp:Minldent
#Execution begins
15:14:54

)*****************************************************************
)***
M i n I den t
(Ident section)
***
)*****************************************************************
)(C) Copyright D. P. Leibovitz and D. G. W. Smith, 1983.

)The following commands are applicable here:

)
Unknown (Edit) . . . . . to enter data for the unknown to be
)
identified or matched.
}
Identify (And) . . . . . to find the 20 most likely identities
}
of the unknown.
}
Match (And) . . . . . . to find the minerals meeting the search
}
criteria entered for the unknown.
}
. . . . . to list specified parameters about the
tabulate.
}
matched or identified minerals
}
d i s p l a y . . . . . . . . to list all data for minerals.
}The usual sequence is: unknown, match or identify,
}
tabulate or display.
)Ident command"Unknown"?
}MinIdent will now request all the parameters for the unknown
}because it is in request mode (request=on). To turn off this mode
}enter: request=off
}To issue any command, prefix the command with a "#".
}A""? 9.9
}B""? 18
)C""? 5.3
)ALPha""?
) BETa" " ? 1 05
)GAMma""?
)BIRefringence""?
)CLAssification""? species of silicates
)COLour", , , ,,"?
)C(Omega)""", "?
)C(Epsilon)""","?
pale yellow brown
)C(Alpha)""","?
yellowish green
)C(Beta)""","?
red brown
)C(Gamma)", ", ,"?
)DENsity""? 3.14
)DISpersion""? r>v
) D-Va 1 ue s" , , , , , , , , , , , , , , "?
8.52,3. 16,2. 73,3.41 ,2.61
)IDEntifier""? possibly hornblende
}MOH""? 5.5
)N""?
)N(Omega)""?
)N(Epsilon)""?
)N(Alpha)""?
1.615
)N(Beta)""? 1.618
}N(Gamma}""? 1.634
) OAP" , , "?
/ / ( 0 10 )
)R(470)""?
}R(546)""?

SampIe Sessions

69
)R(589)""?
)R(650)""?
)REMarks""?
)SlGn""?
)SYMmetry""? monoclinic
)TYPe""? silicates
)VHN""?
)2V(Gamma)""? 81
)lf the weight of Fe203 is 30%, enter: Fe203=30%
)To finish entering compositions, enter a blank line.
)Weight"SAVE"?
Si02=S4.27
)Weight"SAVE"?
A1203=4.92
)Weight"SAVE"?
FeO=O.22
)Weight"SAVE"?
MnO=O.18
)Weight"SAVE"?
MgO=2S.42
)Weight"SAVE"?
CaO=11.31
)Weight"SAVE"?
Na20=1.20
)Weight"SAVE"?
H20=1.94
)Weight"SAVE"?
H20=O.26
)Weight"SAVE"?
surn
)The sum of all the weight percentages is 98.725-102.414
)Weight"SAVE"?
)The following commands are applicable here:
.to enter data for the unknown to be
)
Unknown (Edit).
)
identified or rnatched.
)
ldentify (And) . . . . . to find the 20 most likely identities
)
of the unknown.
)
Match (And) . . . . . . to find the minerals meeting the search
)
criteria entered for the unknown .
)
tabulate.
. . . . . to list specified parameters about the
)
matched or identified minerals
)
display.
. . . . . to list all data for minerals.
)The usual sequence is: unknown, match or identify,
)
tabulate or display.
)ldent command"Unknown"?
stop

)*****************************************************************

SampIe Sessions

70

Sample Sessions

71

Sampie Sessions

72

REFERENCES

Bowie, S. H. U & Simpson, P. R. (1978): The Bowie-Simpson System lor the

Microscopic Determination olOre Minerals: First Students' Issue. McCrone
Research Associates, London.
Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A. & Zussman, J. (1962): Rock-lorming minerals, Vois. 1- 5.
Longman, London.
Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A. & Zussman, J. (1978): Rock-Forming Minerals, Vol. 2A:
Single-Chain Silicates. Longman, London, 668pp.
Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A., & Zussman, J. (1982): Rock-Forming Minerals, Vol. IA:
Orthosilicates. Longman, London, 919pp.
Dietrich, R. V. (1969): Mineral Tables. Hand-specimen properties 011500 minerals.
McGraw-Hill Book Company, 237 pp.
Embrey, P. G. & Fuller J. P. (1980): A manual 01 new mineral names 1892 - 1978.
British Museum (Natural History)/Oxford University Press, 467 pp.
Fleischer, M (1983): Glossary olmineral species. Mineralogical Record Inc. Tucson,
202 pp.
Fleischer, M., R.E. & Matzko, J.1. (1984): MicroscopicDetermination olthe
Nonopaque Minerals. U.S. Geol. Surv. BuH. 1627.
Frye, Keith (Ed.) (1981): The Encyclopedia 01 Mineralogy. Hutchinson Ross
Publishing Co. Stroudsburg Pennsylvania, 794 pp.
Hahn, Theo (Ed.) (1983): International Tables lor Crystallography. Vol. A:
Space-Group Symmetry. D. Readel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, Holland / Boston,
U.S.A.
Henry, N. F. M. (Ed.) (1977): IMA/COMQuantitativedatajile. International
Mineralogical Association. Commercial Agents: McCrone Research Associates Ltd.,
2 McCrone Mews, Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BG. England.
Henry. N. F. M. & Lonsdale. K. (Eds.) (1952): International Tables lor X-ray
Crystallography, Vol I: Symmetry Groups. International Union of Crystallography.
Kynoch Press, Birmingham, England, 538 pp.
Hey, M. H. (1962): An Index olMineral Species & Varieties Arranged Chemically.
(2nd edition). British Museum (Natural History ), London, 728 pp.
Hey, M. H. (1963): Appendix to the second edition 01 an Index 01 Mineral Species and
Varieties Arranged Chemically. British Museum (Natural History), London, 135 pp.
Leake, B. E. (Ed.) (1978): Nomenclature 01 Amphiboles. Report on the IMA
Subcomittee on Amphiboles. Mineral.Mag. 42,533-563.
Pierrot, R. M. (1979): Chemical and Determinative Tables 01 Mineralogy (without the
silicates). Masson Publishing USA inc., New York, 591 pp.
Roberts, W. L., Rapp, G .R. & Weber, 1. (1974): Encyclopedia 01 Minerals. Van
Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 693 pp.
Smith, D. G. W. & Gold, C. M., (1979): EDATA2: A FORTRAN IV Computer
program lor processing wavelength and/or energy-dispersive electron microprobe
analyses. Proc. 14th Ann. Mtg. Microbeam Anal. Soc. (San Antonio, Texas, 1979)
p. 273 - 278. San Francisco Press.
Troger, W.E (1979): Optical determination 01 rock-lorming minerals. Part 1:
Determinative tables. 4th German edition by Bambauer, H.U., Taborsky, F. &
Trochin H.D. [English translation by Hoffmann, C. K.]. E. Schweizerbart'sche
Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, 188pp.
Uytenbogaardt, W. & Burke, E.AJ. (1971): Tables lor microscopic identijication olore

Relerences

73
minerals. Elsevier Scientific Publ. Co., Amsterdam, 430pp.
Winchell, A. N. (1956): Elements ojoptical mineralogy. Part III, Determinative tables.
Wiley & Sons, New York and Chapman & Hall, London, 231pp.
Winchell, A. N. & Winchell H. (1951): Elements oj optical mineralogy. Part II,
Determinative tables. Wiley & Sons, New York and Chapman & Hall, London,
551pp.

Rejerences

MinIdent Appendix A
TO:

Proposers of New Mineral Species

FROM:

J. A. Mandarino, Chairman
Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names
International Mineralogical Association

74

Completion of the attached CHECK LIST will greatly improve the

handling of your proposed new mineral. Hopefully, it will also point
out deficiencies in your description which can be corrected before the
proposal is submitted.
The CHECK LIST is not meant to replace the material which you might
norma 11 y submi t . Ins tead, i t wi 11 serve as a summary of the proposa 1
and will assist me to prepare the abstract which will be sent to the
members of the Commission for voting. Please send as much text as you
wish in addition to the CHECK LIST.
Where choices are given on the form, circle the appropriate words or
figures. Please feel free to add any additional data not listed
specificallyon the CHECK LIST.
If there is not enough space on a sheet, use additional sheets. Note
that there are two different versions of Page 1 and Page 2: 1a and 2a
for nonmetallic minerals; 1b and 2b for metallic minerals (the "ore"
minerals) .
I suggest that those authors who regularly submit proposals, prepare
several blank copies of the CHECK LIST for future use. If you have an
earlier version of this CHECK LIST, please destroy it and use only this
one. Please DO NOT prepare your own version of the CHECK LIST. It is
very important that you enter your data directly onto one of my forms.
This helps me to find "missing" data much more readily.
Thanks for your co-operation which will assist me greatly in handling
the 80 to 100 proposals which I receive per year.

J. A. Mandarino
Cha i rman

Enc 1 .

Version 850501
Page la
CHECK LIST
NONMETALLIC MINERALS
NO.

...............................................................
....................................................................

NAME

CHEMICAL FORMULA
CRYSTAL SYSTEM

SPACE GROUP

POINT GROUP
NOTE: Give estimated errors for unit eell edges and angles in the
braekets. For example, a 12.345(9).
a

........ ( )

..... ( ) 0

Ab

) A

( ) 0

........ ()

'Y

( )0

V ( ) A3

AUTHORS' NAMES AND COMPLETE ADDRESSES:

OCCURRENCE:

(Give speeifie details on the geographie loeality and the assoeiated

minerals). In eases of isolated loealities, give Latitude and Longitude.

APPEARANCE AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

GENERAL APPEARANCE: (Inelude grain or erystal size, type of aggregate, ete.).

COLOUR

..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STREAK

LUSTRE

TRANSPARENCY

FLUORESCENCE
HARDNESS

TENACITY

CLEAVAGE
PARTING
FRACTURE
DENSITY(meas.)

........ ( )g/em 3

DENSITY(eale.)

........ ( )g/em 3

(Method used to measure density: ...................................... )

OTHER DATA:

(Use other pages, if neeessary)

Version 850501
Page 2a
NONMETALLIC MINERALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ISOTROPIC
UNI AXIAL
BIAXIAL

(A

= .......... )

NOTE: Give estimated errors for

refractive indices and 2V.

n ......... ( )
(+)(-)

(+) (-)

w ......... (

a..... . . . . . ()

2V(meas.) ............ ()
DISPERSION:

E (

2V(ca1c.) ........ (

(Such as r>v, strong)

r > v,

r < v,
ORIENTATION:

PLEOCHROISM:
ABSORPTION:

(As comp1ete as possib1e)

'Y.

()

Version 850501
Page lb
CHECK LIST
METALLIC MINERALS

...............................................................
CHEMICAL FORMULA ....................................................................
CRYSTAL SYSTEM ..................... SPACE GROUP ................................. .
NO.

NAME

..................................

POINT GROUP
NOTE: Give estimated errors for unit eell edges and angles in the
Braekets. For example, a 12.345(9).
a

........ ( ) A b

...... ( ) 0

) A

( ) 0

........ ( ) A

'Y

( )0

V ( ) A3

AUTHORS' NAMES AND COMPLETE ADDRESSES:

OCCURRENCE:

(Give speeifie details on the geographie loeality and the assoeiated

minerals). In cases of isolated localities, give Latitude and Longitude.

APPEARANCE AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

GENERAL APPEARANCE: (Include grain or crystal size, type of aggregate, etc.).

COLOUR (megascopic ) ............................................................. .

STREAK

LUSTR.E

TRANSPARENCY

HARDNESS
Mohs' ........
Microindentation:
VHN load
me an

= ................. .

range = ................ .

TENACITY

PARTING

CLEAVAGE
DENSITY(meas.)

FRACTURE
........ ( )g/em 3

DENSITY(calc.)

........ ( )g/cm 3

(Method used to measure densi ty: ........................................ )

OTHER DATA:

(Use other pages, if necessary)

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METALLIC MINERALS
OPTlCAL PROPERTIES
COLOUR:
INTERNAL REFLECTIONS:
ANISOTROPY:
BIREFLECTANCE:
PLEOCHROISM:
REFLECTANCE VALUES (The standard shou1d be one of those recommended
by the Commission on Ore Microscopy).
Standard:
(air/oil; n

= ......... )

400
420
440
460
470
480
500
520

540
546
560
580
589
600

620
640

650
660
680
700

OTHER OPTlCAL DATA:

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Page 3
CHEMICAL DATA
TYPE OF ANALYSIS: Ccircle appropriate ones)
WET

ELECTRON PROBE

OTHER:

ELECTRON PROBE STANDARDS:

H2 0 ANALYTICAL METHOD
ANALYTlCAL RESULTS:
NOTE:

CNumber of analyses: ......... )

If multiple analyses have been carried out, please give

ranges and/or standard deviations of the data.

CONSTITUENT

WT. %

Range

Standard
Deviation

TOTAL
EMPIRlCAL FORMULA:

CGIVE BASIS OF CALCULATION, SUCH AS NUMBER OF ANIONS, ETC.):

CHEMICAL TESTS:

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CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
KIND OF STUDY:

Weissenberg

Precession

CELL PARAMETERS REFINED FROM POWDER DATA?

Other ....................
Yes

NO

CRYSTAL SYSTEM
PO I NT GROUP

(I f

space group is unknown) ..............................

SPACE GROUP
CELL PARAMETERS
A

......... (
......... (

) A

......... (

'Y

......... (

Al Z

POWDER DATA

(For CuKa, FeKa or

Debye-Scherrer ...
NOTE:

Gandolfi ...

.........

......... (
......... (
......... )

)0
)0
)0

(Circle or insert 'Y)

Diffractometer ..

Guinier ..

ON ASEPARATE SHEET, PLEASE SUPPLY THE COMPLETE X-RAY

POWDER DIFFRACTION DATA IN THE FORM NOTED BELOW.
CIRCLE THE INTENSITIES OF THE STRONGEST LINES.
d

etc.

etc.

hkl

etc.

CRYSTAL STRUCTURE (Summarize the details):

R = ....

MORPHOLOGY
HABIT
FORMS
TWINNING
OTHER DATA
a:b:c or c:a
(from morphology)
(calculated from unit cell parameters)

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Page 5
NAME (Explain the reason for selecting the name):
If named for a living person, indicate his or her acceptance and
year of birth. If named for a deceased person, please give years
of birth and death. For names transliterated from the Cyrillic
alphabet, please give the original Cyrillic spelling.

TYPE MATERIAL

(Give the name of the Museum where it is deposited)

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER SPECIES

(Include, if possible, where the

mineral fits into a classification)

How can it be distinguished from similar minerals?

REFERENCES

COMPATIBILITY

IK )

(l-K

OTHER DATA

(Thermal, Infra Red, etc.)

AUTHORS' REMARKS

(Add anything which will clarify difficult parts of

the description)

PLEASE USE ADDITIONAL PAGES, IF NECESSARY.