January-March 2008

Back to the 'latest news' page Initial notes were complemented in October 2008 by informations provided through e-mails received from January to March at the IMA Secretariat. From the Council IMA-CNMNC publication In January, the IMA president, Takamotsu Yamanaka, informed the President of the Mineralogical Society of Canada, Kurt Kyser, on the IMA position following the new policy of the Canadian Mineralogist, which requests to pay for publication of any IMA article in Canadian Mineralogist. IMA has several times discussed the IMA publication policy, especially during the Council Meetings in Kobe, 2006 and Cambridge, 2007. The fact is that IMA operated on a small budget and unfortunately simply does not have sufficient funds to pay for the page charges. Raising the IMA subscriptions was already suggested by the IMA council during the Business Meeting in Florence, but it appears that this proposal was not favoured by the IMA society members. The solution IMA suggests is (1) to move some of the CNMNC publications, which are unlikely to be cited directly and therefore of less benefit to a journal, to web-site only publication. The ‘Annual List of New Minerals and Changes in Nomenclature’ is an example of this type of publication (see the CNMNC website); (2) to rotate the other reports around a group of learned society journals. This would share the burden of publishing among some of the larger Societies. Frances Wall, IMA Communication Officer has discussed this with the editors of Mineralogical Magazine, European Journal of Mineralogy and American Mineralogist, as well as with Robert Martin. There were positive responses from Mineralogical Magazine and European Journal of Mineralogy. Later on a message was received from Frances Wall at the IMA Secretariat on the 11th of February, telling that MSA agreed to publish CNMNC reports. The reports should be submitted to the American Mineralogist in the usual way. For additional informations, contact Alex Spear, MSA Executive Director. Dr. J. Alex Speer Mineralogical Society of America 3635 Concorde Pkwy Ste 500 Chantilly VA 20151-1125 USA Tel: +1 (703) 652-9950 Fax: +1 (703) 652-9951 website: www.minsocam.org Back to top Commission and Working Group news New list of IMA Officers of Commissions and Working groups. A list of Officers of IMA Commissions and Working groups, together with their respective corresponding member in the IMA council, was established in January Publications of the CNMNC: See the complete list of CNMNC mineral reports on the CNMNC website Recent publications: A system of codification for unnamed minerals by Smith & Nickel: Can. Mineral., 45 (August 2007), 983-990, with three appendices p.991-1055. Updated lists (January 2008) of valid unnamed minerals, invalid unnamed minerals, and references for unnamed minerals Tidying up mineral names: an IMA-CNMNC scheme for suffixes, hyphens and diacritical marks by E. Burke (March-April 2008): Mineral. Record, 39 (2008), 131-135. Sulfosalt group: Eur. J. of Mineralogy, 2008, V.20, 7-46. The different Journals are thanked for publishing IMA-CNMNC results. IMA is particularly grateful to the Mineralogical Association of Canada and, in particular to Bob Martin, editor of the Canadian Mineralogist for the support to CNMNC over many years. CAM - WGEMG - COM - Deadline submission for a session in Oslo during the 33rd International Geological Congress is February 29, 2008: "Metals in the Earth: From Vital ressources to Environmental hazard" (MPM-03). Convenors: David Vaughan, Dogan Paktunc and Kari Kojonen. CPM - Session 07f during the 2008 Goldschmidt Conference : "Diffraction and absorption spectroscopies at high temperatures and pressures" Synchrotron and neutron based spectroscopic and diffraction techniques have become routine for investigating minerals, glasses and liquids under extreme conditions (high temperature/pressure). We invite contributions on recent experimental work, as well as from those using numerical simulations or other spectroscopies at high temperatures and/or pressures. Convenors: Grant Henderson, Daniel Neuville, Eiji Ohtani. WGA - The development of WGA was considered by R. Downs and the IMA secretariat (February 2008). Duties and role of officers of IMA Commissions and Working Groups - This statement was recalled by the IMA secretariat following discussion between council members. First of all, activities of the IMA officers of Commissions and Working groups should be undertaken within the IMA objectives reported in article 2 of the IMA constitution: "Article 2. Object The object of the Association shall be to further international cooperation in the mineralogical sciences. To this end the activities of the Association shall include: (a) The promotion of intercourse among mineralogists of all nations by organizing meetings and field excursions and by sponsoring publications of mineralogical interest. (b) The maintenance of Commissions to examine and report on certain aspects of mineralogical practice and of committees to expedite other matters. (c) The participation in action with other international groups having mineralogical interests". On the other hand, IMA Com-WG are organizing themselves as they want. This is written in the IMA constitution (article 12 e) "The Commissions shall be responsible to the Business Meeting, but shall in general have freedom to determine their own rules of procedure, their method of work and the dates and places of their meetings. They shall, however, hold a meeting at the time and place of the Business Meeting of the Association". The only thing officers of commissions-working groups have to produce is an annual report on the commission activity (article 12f). However, in case activities of a commission is unsufficient, the recently voted article 12h autorises the IMA council to move the officers: "If a two-third majority of the Council deem it necessary, Council has the power to replace the officers of a Commission (Chair, Vice-Chair and/or Secretary) at any stage during the years intervening between business meetings. Replacements may not necessarily be from existing members of a commission". The other chapters of article 12 of the By-Laws indicate how a commission is created, how officers and members are named, and how a commisison is terminated. In practise, officers of IMA Com/WG organize meetings, scientific sessions during meetings, workshop, special publications, web site, communication, etc. They organize a business meeting every year or every two years. Some Com/WG may also develop their role in defining prospectives and guidelines for their respective activities. Actually, organization, size, production and activities are differing a lot from one Com/Wg to an other. Article 7. Commissions and other activities of the Association - "The lines on which the Commissions are to be constituted and run, as well as directions to be followed by those responsible for the other activities of the Association (see Article 2) shall be laid down in regulations approved from time to time by the Business Meeting and contained in the By-Laws". Following e-mail exchanges between R. Downs and the IMA secretariat, it was suggested that the council should work at the preparation of new guidelines for the IMA Commissions and Working Groups. Back to top Proposal to create a new Working Group. On the 20th of March, Yaoling Niu, Chair of the IUGS commission on Solid Erath Composition and Evolution has expressed an interest in joining the International Mineralogical Association as one of its commission. According to the IMA organization, this project would constitute an item during the IMA business meeting in Vancouver following the IMA council decision to present or not the Niu's request. Back to top Medal Committee An IMA Medal nomination table was prepared by Joel Grice, chair of the IMA Medal Committee. This table is regularly updated for nominations being on time on the 1rst of April 2008. Joel Grice received the first proposals for nominations in March for the IMA Medal 2008. Back to top Meetings 2008 Goldschmidt Conference - IMA Council and Business Meetings in Vancouver: The IMA Secretariat is in contact with the Goldschmidt organizing committee to get rooms for the different IMA council meetings and business meetings since October 2007. The updated booking information for the IMA Council and Business meetings was receiced at the IMA secretariat on the 30th of March. Location and place of meetings are as follow: Council Meetings: Building Hebb, 2045 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1. Room 12 July 13, 2008 13:30 - 18:00 July 16, 2008 14:00 - 18:00 July 18, 2008 16:30 - 19:00 Business Meetings: Chemistry, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1. Room 124 July 14, 2008 17:00 - 19:00 July 17, 2008 17:00 - 19:00 IMA advertising in Vancouver - The IMA council has decided not to rent a booth or to prepare an insert to be placed in delegate package prepared for the Goldschmidt participants for financial reasons. The 33rd International geological Congress (August 2008): Abstract and field trip registration: deadline 29 February 2008. Mineralogical symposia : 9 sessions are organized by IMA and its commissions and Working Groups. Have a list of the sessions with their abstract and convenors. IMA will have a free booth in Oslo (3x3m) to inform on its activities and on the 2010 IMA General Meeting. However, some charges have to be paid to rent an equiped stand (450 euro). 2009 Joined meeting: Materials, Analysis, Processes, Time (MAPT) Edinburgh, September 1-3, 2009 (Information provided by P. Cordier, SFMC, 3 March) Proposal for a joined meeting in Edinburgh in 2009 sent by the MinSoc. This meeting will be held at the Kings Buildings campus of the University of Edinburgh on September 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2009. It also is an invitation to participate in and assist with the organisation of the meeting. This invitation is extended to colleagues in the German and French Societies, the Groups within the Mineralogical Society, and other Earth Scientists interested in mineralogy and its many applications. IMA 2010 General Meeting About 50 suggestions of scientific sessions have been submitted to the organisation consortium of IMA 2010. New proposals are expected before ending the 2010 program The organisation consortium hold a meeting in February. Back to top IMA adhering societies IMA 2010 Consortium: A meeting occurred in February 2008. Mineralogical Society of Russia: A Mineralogical seminar is planned on June 2008. The circular is available here. French Society of Mineralogy & Crystallography - Message 1 from the new President, Patrick Cordier to the SFMC members on the President policy (6Feb.2008). Message 2 from Patrick Cordier (11Feb.2008) to the SFMC members on the Medal nomination policy. Mineralogical Association of South Africa (6 march 2008) - Sabine Verryn the Past President of the Mineralogical Association of SA, will present the SA proposal during the IMA first council meeting and Business Meeting in Vancouver. Back to to IUGS Bulletin 29 is published (9th of February). The International Year of Planet Earth - Global Lauch Event (Paris - 12 & 13 February 2008) - The IMA secretary participated to the Global Lauch Event (GLE) which occurred at Unesco's headquarters for the International Year of Planet Earth. The International Year of Planet Earth is a joint initiative by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and UNESCO and was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as a UN International Year for Planet Earth 2008. Invitation came from Eduardo de Mulder, Executive Director IYPE Secretariat. This invitation was forwarded to M. Ohnenstetter by T. Yamanaka. The GLE occurred at UNESCO’s headquarters on the 12 and 13th of  February 2008. This event was co-organized by the IYPE Corporation and the National Committee of the IYPE in France, together with IUGS and UNESCO. During the Global Launch Event three conceptual issues were addressed: (1) Population growth & climate change: challenges for Planet Earth (2) Earth resources: threat or treat? (3) Geohazards: minimizing risk, maximizing awareness. These issues were discussed by top scientists, CEOs of leading industries and leading politicians. A pdf version of the GLE is available from the IUGS and IMA website. EMU The next EMU Council Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, 2008. It will take place during the EGU conference in Vienna (Information from Herta Silvia Effenberger - 25 march 2008). Herta who attends all the IMA council will represent the IMA. Back to to Other News A virtual Museum of the History of Mineralogy was open in June 2007. A Newletter (2008/1) was received at the IMA Secretariat on the 10th of January sent by Claude Hootel and Paul Tambuyer. Collections are distributed into five categories: mineralogy and crystallography books goniometers optical instruments non-optical instruments antique crystal models The “antique labels” collection was removed from the site because a very rich collection of labels (probably the largest one in the world) with detailed biographic information is available on the Mineralogical Record website. Back to to