Recently, following review and voting by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA-CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association, a new sulfide mineral jointly proposed by Nie Xiao and Deng Zhen from the “Innovative Team for Deep Mineral Resource Exploration and Evaluation” at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, along with Xue Yuan and Sun Ningyue from the team led by Li Guowu at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Guo Zixiao from Hebei Normal University, Zhang Zhenjie from Nankai University, Liang Xue from Shanghai University, Jia Lihui from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Xian Haiyang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been officially recognized. The new mineral has been assigned the International Mineralogical Association number IMA 2025-019 and given the English name "Guixiangite." Its Chinese name is designated as "Gui Xiang Nickel-Bismuth Ore." Gui Xiang Nickel-Bismuth Ore belongs to the Cobaltite Group and has the chemical formula NiBiS. Its elemental composition is as follows: Bi 52.90%, S 11.86%, Co 0.85%, Sb 11.77%, As 0.42%, Ni 21.89%, and Fe 0.51%. It crystallizes in the cubic system, with space group P213. The lattice parameters are a = 9.4528(4) Å and V = 772.83(5) ų. This new mineral was discovered in the Jinxiu Nickel-Cobalt Deposit in Dayaoshan, eastern Guangxi, and is closely associated with nickel-cobalt mineralization. Its discovery holds significant implications for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the enrichment of nickel and cobalt elements. The new mineral is named after Meng Guixiang (1968–2024), a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to breakthroughs in nickel ore exploration and the application of geophysical exploration technologies.

The discovery of this mineral was supported by a project funded by the China Geological Survey (DD20242085) and carried out by the “Innovative Team for Deep Mineral Resource Exploration and Evaluation” at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. This team is dedicated to “innovating deep-resource exploration technologies, uncovering deep-process mechanisms underlying resource formation, and expanding the spatial scope of resource exploration.” Focusing on the deep structures, deep processes, and “terminal” ore-forming effects associated with ore-forming systems, the team conducts comprehensive geophysical exploration studies at multiple scales—covering metallogenic belts, ore clusters, and ore deposits—as well as predictive assessments for mineral exploration in various types of shallowly covered areas. These efforts provide both theoretical and technical support for ensuring the sustainable supply of national resources. Minerals serve as crucial witnesses to Earth’s evolutionary history, and the discovery of new minerals helps humanity further enrich our knowledge in the field of Earth sciences. Moreover, minerals provide essential raw materials for modern science and industrial development; the discovery of new minerals can facilitate the development of novel materials or drive technological advancements, potentially unlocking new resource reserves and economic value. Additionally, the discovery of new minerals contributes significantly to science popularization, environmental protection, and international cooperation, making it profoundly meaningful.