ametialane

Ametialane is a rare and unique mineral discovered in 2019, named after the American mineralogist George Amet. It is a complex oxide mineral with the chemical formula (Na,Ca)2(Fe,Mn)2+2(Fe,Mn)3+4O8. Ametialane is typically found in low-temperature hydrothermal veins associated with other iron and manganese oxides. It forms prismatic crystals that are usually dark brown to black in color, with a metallic luster. The mineral has a hardness of approximately 5.5 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity of around 4.5.

Ametialane is of interest to mineralogists due to its complex crystal structure and the variety of elements it incorporates. It is a member of the delafossite group of minerals, which are known for their layered structures. The mineral's discovery has contributed to the understanding of the formation and composition of hydrothermal veins and the incorporation of different elements in mineral structures.

Despite its rarity, ametialane has been found in only a few locations worldwide, including the type locality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and another occurrence in the United States. The mineral's limited distribution and the challenges associated with its identification make it a subject of ongoing research in the field of mineralogy.