Recently, a new mineral—Fuyuan niobium—discovered and named by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Baotou Rare Earth Research Institute at the Bayan Obo deposit, has been officially approved following review and unanimous approval by the New Minerals Nomenclature and Classification Committee of the International Mineralogical Association (approval number IMA2024-059). This marks the fourth new mineral discovered this year in the Bayan Obo mining area, following Ebo niobium, Zhai scandium amphibole, and fluorocarbon calcium neodymium.

Fuyuan niobium mineral is found in the carbonatite of the Bayan Obo deposit. It ranges in color from reddish-brown to brown and typically occurs as mineral aggregates, coexisting with other minerals such as Ebo niobium, magnetite, pyrochlore, niobium-calcite, pollucite, and carbonate minerals. This mineral represents a newly discovered metal oxide with a unique structure and chemical composition. The new mineral is named after Researcher Wu Fuyuan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the study of the genesis of light-colored granites and the regularities of rare-metal mineralization—particularly his significant contributions to advancing research on the mineralogy, ore deposit geology, and rare-earth resource potential of the Bayan Obo deposit.

The Bayan Obo deposit is the world’s largest rare-earth deposit and the second-largest niobium deposit. It is also a treasure trove for mineralogical research, with approximately 210 known mineral species. The newly discovered Fuyuan niobium mineral is the 23rd new mineral ever identified at this deposit. Niobium is an extremely rare strategic critical metal, and China’s dependence on foreign sources for niobium resources is exceptionally high. The Fuyuan niobium mineral boasts a high niobium content and holds promise for expanding the range of potentially recoverable niobium-bearing minerals at Bayan Obo.