bandolierit

Bandolierit is a mineral name that appears in a small number of sources but is not widely recognized as a distinct mineral species. In major mineral databases and catalogs, the term is either absent or listed as uncertain, and it may reflect an old or informal name rather than a formally approved mineral.

The etymology is unclear; some usages seem to allude to a banded appearance or to a locality name, but there is no consistent description of composition, crystal structure, or physical properties associated with bandolierit.

Reported occurrences, if any, are scarce and uncorroborated by peer-reviewed study. Without a formal description and verification, the name bandolierit should be treated as provisional or potentially refer to another known mineral misidentified.

As with many mineral names, the status of bandolierit hinges on formal appraisal by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) and confirmation in reliable analyses. Until such validation occurs, information about bandolierit remains limited to anecdotal references.

See also: mineral names, mineral database Mindat, IMA Commission on New Minerals, and hypothetical minerals.