We learned from the China Geological Survey that two new minerals—fluorocarbon-calcium-neodymium and Juxing copper—discovered, named, and nominated by Chinese scientists have recently been approved by the New Minerals Nomenclature and Classification Committee of the International Mineralogical Association.

The fluorocarbon-calcium-neodymium mineral was discovered at the Baiyun Obo mine in Inner Mongolia by Fan Chenzhi, a researcher at the National Geological Testing and Research Center, in collaboration with the Institute of Mineral Resources of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Central South University, and other institutions. According to reports, the Baiyun Obo mine in Inner Mongolia is the world's largest rare-earth deposit and a treasure trove of mineral resources in China; to date, more than 210 mineral species have been identified there. The newly discovered fluorocarbon-calcium-neodymium mineral is the 21st new mineral species ever found in this deposit.

Neodymium, as a leading member of today’s rare-earth element family, plays an extremely important role in promoting the application of rare earths in high-tech fields such as permanent magnet materials and laser materials. The newly discovered fluorocarbon-calcium-neodymium mineral belongs to the calcium-rare-earth-fluorocarbonate mineral series and represents an important mineral raw material for neodymium resources. The discovery of this new mineral is of great significance for enriching the fundamental theoretical knowledge of rare-earth fluorocarbonate mineralogy, gaining a deeper understanding of the occurrence states and substitution mechanisms of rare-earth elements in Bayan Obo, and elucidating the formation and evolution of ore deposits, the occurrence states of elements, element migration processes, and enrichment mechanisms.

The Juxing copper deposit was discovered within the Jiama world-class porphyry-skarn-type giant copper-polymetallic ore deposit in Tibet. The discovery was made by Gu Fenghua, Assistant Researcher at the Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; Zhang Yongmei, Associate Professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing); Gu Xiangping, Professor at Jiangxi College of Applied Technology/Central South University; and Fan Guang, Researcher at the Research Institute of Nuclear Industry Geology.

It is understood that Juxing copper ore is a complex metal sulfide, opaque, and exhibits a metallic luster. Preliminary studies indicate that Juxing copper ore is an important gold- and silver-bearing mineral with a complex structure; its formation is closely associated with medium-to-high temperature hydrothermal precious-metal mineralization. The discovery of this mineral not only adds a new member to the sulfide mineral family but also holds significant scientific value for studying the physicochemical conditions and mineralization processes involved in porphyry-skarn-type ore deposits.