Professor Teruki Imaoka, Associate Professor Mariko Nagashima, Professor Takashi Kano, Senior Technical Researcher Junichi Kimura, Qing Chang, Technical Chief, Gem Research Japan Co., Ltd., Graduate School of Science and Technology, Yamaguchi University A joint research group led by Chihiro and his colleagues discovered a new mineral containing lithium in Iwakijima, Kamishima-cho, Ehime Prefecture.The discovered mineral was named "Murakami Stone" after Mr. Nobuhide Murakami, a prominent mineralogist and petrologist, Professor Emeritus of Yamaguchi University.
It has long been known that Iwagi Island, Kamijima Town, Ehime Prefecture, produces a unique "Ozil stone syenite", which has attracted the attention of petrologists. In 1944, Ken-ichi Sugi and Masanori Hisatsuna of Kyushu University reported "Ozil Syenite" in an academic journal, and on March 1968, 3, it was designated as a prefectural designated natural monument in Ehime Prefecture.After that, Mr. Nobuhide Murakami discovered the new mineral "Sugilite" in 8 and the second new mineral "Katayama stone" in 1976.More than a quarter of a century has passed since the discovery of Katayama stone, and the progress of analytical technology during that period has been remarkable, and no mineral or rock researcher has made it the subject of research. I decided to reexamine "Ezil Stone Flash" with the aim of researching Wang.In the reexamination, since "Ozil Syenite" is a natural monument designated by the prefecture, the research was started after submitting a permit application for changing the current situation to the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education.
"Murakami stone" discovered by the joint research team this time is a rare mineral containing a large amount of lithium represented by the chemical formula LiCa2Si3O8 (OH).Mineralogists around the world predicted that the pectolite group to which this mineral belongs would have a mineral with such a composition, but it remained vacant for a long time.The discovery of "Murakami Ishi" this time is the result of filling this missing piece, and it can be said that it is a very valuable discovery.
"Murakami stone" was officially approved as a new species by the New Mineralogical Association's New Mineralogical Association's New Mineralogical Association's New Mineralogical Association on October 2016, 10, and on November 7, New Minerals of the British academic journal "Mineralogical Magazine". It was put on the list.
