The International Mineralogical Association (IMA) is an international group of 38 national societies. The goal is to promote the science of mineralogy and to standardize the nomenclature of the 4000 plus known mineral species. The IMA is affiliated with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
Presidents (IMA)2014–?: Walter V. MareschRuhr University Bochum2010–2014: Ekkehart Tillmanns (born 1941)Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, University of ViennaMineral: tillmannsite (IMA 2001-010)2006–2010: Takamitsu YamanakaOsaka University2002–2006: Ian ParsonsUniversity of Edinburgh1998–2002: Anthony (Tony) J. Naldrett (born 1933)University of TorontoMineral: naldrettite (IMA 2004-007)1994–1998: Stefano Merlino (born 1938)University of PisaMineral: merlinoite (IMA 1976-046)1990–1994: Xiande XieGuangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (Chinese Academy of Sciences)Mineral: xieite (IMA 2007-056)1986–1990: Peter John Wyllie (born 1930)California Institute of Technology (after 1984, Caltech) and University of Chicago (1965–1983)Mineral: wyllieite (IMA 1972-015)1982–1986: Ivan Kostov (Nikolov) (1913–2004)Sofia UniversityMineral: kostovite (IMA 1965-002)1978–1982: Claude (Jean Guy) Guillemin (1923–1994)École des Mines de Paris (Mines ParisTech)Mineral: guilleminite (IMA 1964-031)1974–1978: Vladimir Stepanovich Sobolev (1908–1982)Novosibirsk State UniversityMineral: sobolevite (IMA 1982-042)1970–1974: Karl Hugo Strunz (1910–2006)Technical University of BerlinMineral: strunzite (1958)1964–1970: Cecil Edgar Tilley (1894–1973)University of Cambridge (England)Mineral: tilleyite (1933)1960–1964: Daniel Jerome Fisher (1896–1988)University of ChicagoMineral: djerfisherite (IMA 1965-028)1958–1960: Robert Lüling Parker (1893–1973)Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and University of ZurichMineral: parkerite (1937)Working Groups and Commissions
The most active IMA commission is the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (CNMMN). It was founded in 1959 to coordinate the assigning of new mineral names, revision of existing names and discreditation of invalid species. Traditionally, the validation procedure of new minerals is one of the chairman's tasks and the discreditation or revalidation procedure of invalid species are two of the vice-chairman's tasks. In July 2006 a merger between the CNMMN and the Commission on Classification of Minerals (CCM), initiated at the request of both commissions, resulted in the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC).
Chairmen (CNMNC)Ulf Hålenius (since c. 2015); mineral: håleniusite-(La) (IMA 2003-028)Peter (Pete) A. Williams (2008 – 2014); mineral: petewilliamsite (IMA 2002-059)Frédéric Hatert, vice-chairman (changes in existing nomenclature)Marco Pasero, vice-chairman (general classification matters)Ernst A. J. Burke (2003 – August, 2008); mineral: ernstburkeite (IMA 2010-059)Giovanni Ferraris, vice-chairmanJoel Denison Grice (1995 – 2002); mineral: griceite (IMA 1986-043)Joseph (Joe) Anthony Mandarino (1983 – 1994); mineral: mandarinoite (IMA 1977-049)Ernest (Ernie) H. Nickel, vice-chairman; mineral: ernienickelite (IMA 1993-002)Akira Kato (1975 – 1982); mineral: katoite (IMA 1982-080a)Michael (Mike) Fleischer (1959 – 1974); mineral: fleischerite (IMA 1962 s.p.)Max Hey, vice-chairmanFrançois Permingeat, secretaryMembers of the IMA
Among the societies represented at the IMA are:
Associación Mineralogica ArgentinaGeological Society of AustraliaÖsterreichische Mineralogische GesellschaftUnion Minéralogique de BelgiqueSociedade Brasileira de GeologiaBulgarian Mineralogical SocietyMineralogical Association of CanadaThe Chinese Society of Mineralogy, Petrology and GeochemistryCeska geolicka spolecnostMineralogical Society of DenmarkThe Mineralogical Society of EgyptSuomen mineraloginen seura r.ySociété Française de Minéralogie et de CristallographieDeutsche Mineralogische GesellschaftCommittee of Economic Geology, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Geological Society of GreeceMagyahoni Földtani Tarsulat, Asvantyan-Geokémoai SzakosztalyMineralogical Society of IndiaSocietà Italiana di Mineralogia e PetrologiaMineralogical Society of JapanMineralogical Society of KoreaKonincklijk Nederlands Geologisch Mijnbouwkundig GenootschapNew Zealand Geochemical and Mineralogical SocietyMineralogisk Gruppe av Norsk Geologisk ForeningPolskie Towarzystwo MineralogiczneSociedade Geologica de Portugal, Grupo de MineralogiaMineralogical Society of RomaniaRussian Mineralogical SocietyMineralogical Society of SlovakiaSlovenian Geological Society, Mineralogical BranchMineralogical Association of South AfricaMineralogical Society of AmericaThe Swedish Mineralogical SocietySchweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische GesellschaftMineralogical Society of Great Britain and IrelandUkrainian mineralogical associationSociedad Española de MineralogíaMineralogical Society of Uzbekistan