Researchers have a big win in mineralogy: the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification recently approved a new mineral named Jinxiuite. Identified and submitted by experts from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS), Jinxiuite – a complex nickel-bismuth-antimony-arsenic sulfide – offers fresh insights into the makeup of hydrothermal ore bodies.
The mineral was found in the Longhua nickel-cobalt deposit in Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on the Chinese mainland. This deposit is exceptionally rich, with nickel and cobalt concentrations at 17.5% and 1.5% of the ore respectively – nearly 80 times higher than standard benchmarks of 0.2% for nickel and 0.02% for cobalt.
"Jinxiuite forms when earlier nickel-bearing minerals are replaced, triggering a crystal rearrangement that stabilizes into a new mineral species," explains Yan Jiayong, a geophysics exploration expert at CAGS. Understanding this process can illuminate how high-grade nickel and cobalt deposits evolve deep underground.
Beyond its scientific novelty, Jinxiuite could guide future resource exploration. Cobalt, in particular, is a critical element for electric vehicle batteries and has long been heavily imported. Tang Hejun, a senior engineer at CAGS, notes that Jinxiuite's mix of nickel, cobalt and bismuth "holds promise for efficient extraction techniques" – research that will shape recovery rates and economic returns on similar deposits.
Looking ahead, the CAGS team plans to build a theoretical model using Jinxiuite as an indicator mineral. If geologists spot Jinxiuite or its analogues in exploration samples, it could signal hidden nickel-cobalt ore bodies with significant commercial value. For young entrepreneurs, tech innovators, and sustainability advocates, this discovery underscores the deep connection between cutting-edge science and tomorrow's clean-energy supply chains.
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China's newly discovered mineral officially named 'Jinxiuite'
cgtn.com
