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Tewite - Mineral of The Year 2019

The International Mineralogical Association (IMA) selected its mineral of the year 2019 - Tewite, which was produced by Professor Li Guowu of the Academy of Sciences of China University of Geosciences (Beijing) in 2014 in Huaping County, Panzhihua, Xichang, Southwest China. The new minerals discovered near Nanyang Village have been formally approved by the International Organization of International Mineralogical Association of Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA-CNMNC) (approval number IMA2014-053).

In 2014, IMA introduced the "Mineral of the Year" initiative, aimed to select and recognize the most inspiring and exciting mineral discoveries each year. With this initiative, the IMA likes also to acknowledge the CNMNC for its tireless work.

It occurs in the Neoproterozoic Sinian light-weathered biotite–quartz monzonite, near the contact zone with gabbro. The associated minerals are alkali feldspar, biotite, clinoamphibole, ilmenite, zircon, zoisite, tourmaline, monazite-(Ce), allanite-(Ce), scheelite, tellurite and the new mineral wumuite (KAl_0.33W_2.67O₉, IMA2017-067a), in addition to an unidentified, potentially new mineral corresponding to WO₃. Tewite forms platy crystals that range from 0.08 x 0.1 x 0.1 to 0.1 x 0.2 x 0.5 mm in size. The crystals are greenish yellow, with a light-yellow to white streak, translucent to transparent, and with adamantine luster.

Tewite the mineral of the year 2019 has attracted much attention because of its unique composition and structure. It is composed of semi-metal tellurium, tungsten, and potassium. It is currently the only natural mineral of K-Te-W. It is also the world’s first discovery of a new naturally-occurring tungsten bronze derivative structure. This discovery has great theoretical and practical significance for studying the crystal chemistry of tellurium, new independent tellurium deposits of tellurium ore, and new types of granite-type tellurium deposits.

Tewite has a new tungsten-bronze (TB)-type derivative structure. The Tewite discovered by Professor Li Guowu can top the list, which fully reflects China's research level and scientific and technological strength in the field of mineral discovery, and greatly improves the academic status and influence in the field of international mineralogy.

Accept from the mineral of the year 2019 - Tewite, Professor Li Guowu discovered the world's first natural mineral with a tungsten bronze structure-wumuite in 2018, which was also formally approved by the IMA-CNMNC (approval number IMA2017- 067a), it has great theoretical and practical significance for the study of crystal chemistry, material science and mineral genesis of tungsten bronze.

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