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News

27.01.2015

Presentation ceremony of the new mineral fontarnauite and homage to Ramon Fontarnau i Griera

On September 8th, the CNMNC (Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification) accepted as a new mineral the "Fontarnauite" ( (Na,K)2 (Sr,Ca) [B5O8(OH).2H2O] ).

This new mineral was discovered in the boratiferous district of Emet (Turkey) by members of the CCiTUB, the Geology Faculty of the UB and the University of Esmirna (Turkey). The characterization study was leaded by Dr. Javier García Veigas (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and Xavier Alcobé (X-ray Diffraction). Several Units of the CCiTUB have participated in the chemical and crystallographic characterization of the fontarnauite, with the collaboration of scientists from the United States and Canada.

Every new mineral which has been identified must be approved as such by the CNMNC. In order to do this, a mineralogical characterization is required. This process includes:
  • Proposed name and the reason of this choice
  • Description of the deposit, paragenesis and related minerals
  • Chemical composition, chemical data and description of the analytical methods used
  • Crystallographic properties, X-ray data and crystalline structure
  • Physical and optical properties
The name "fontarnauite" was proposed in honour of deceased Dr. Ramon Fontarnau (director of the Material Characterization Section of the SCT-UB, now CCiTUB) in recognition of his technical and scientific labour at the Units of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Electron Microprobe and X-ray Diffraction.

The next February 4th, in Aula Magna of the Geology Faculty, it will take place the presentation ceremony of the new mineral together and homage to Ramon Fontarnau i Griera. Dr. Dídac Ramírez, Rector of the UB, Dr. Lluís Cabrera, Dean of the Geology Faculty, Dr. José Ramón Seoane, Director of the CCiTUB, Dr. Mercé Durfort i Coll of the Cellular Biology Department of the UB, Dr. Javier García Veigas of the CCiTUB and Dr. Cahit Helvaci of the Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi (Turkey) will attend the ceremony.

The program of the event is the following:

09:30Welcome. (Dr. Didac Ramírez, Rector of the UB; Dr. Lluís Cabrera, Dean Fac. Geología, and Dr. José Ramón Seoane, Director CCiTUB).
10:00Presentations.
“Ramon Fontarnau: amic, científic i tecnòleg”. (Dra. Mercè Durfort i Coll, Cellular Biology Dept., UB).

“Fontarnauita: descoberta i caracterització del nou mineral”. (Dr. Javier García Veigas, CCiTUB).
10:30Conference.
"Borate minerals in sedimentary environments". (Dr. Cahit Helvacı, Dokuz Eilül Üniversitesi, Turkey)




Images of the fontarnauite:

Highslide JS
Fontarnauite detail
   Highslide JS
Fontarnauite detail with scale