Organic minerals: Definitions, classifications, and characteristics

Abstract

Organic minerals are crystalline substances with C–C, C–H, and/or C–N bonds formed from geological processes in nature, specifically natural crystalline hydrocarbons, salts of organic acids, and metal–organic complexes. Based on the current mineral list of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) (updated as of November 2024), there are 89 organic minerals in 413 localities, including 55 organic acid salts in 277 localities, 13 hydrocarbons in 44 localities, and 21 miscellaneous organic minerals in 92 localities. Organic minerals are classified into 22 types depending on the types of organic groups, among which oxalate (37), arene (12), glycolate (7), uric acid (4), and acetate (3) are the most abundant. The organic minerals may be crystallized in all seven crystal systems, with monoclinic (45), orthorhombic (19), and triclinic (10) being the dominant ones. Depending on the covalent or ionic linkages among organic anion groups and metal polyhedra, organic minerals can be structurally classified into types of isolated molecules (35 minerals), chains (17 minerals), layers (18 minerals), and frameworks (18 minerals). Genetically, organic minerals may be formed with relation to guano substance (24), taphonomic and petrified organic materials (11), coal or oilfields (14), or as supergene minerals (32) in various host rocks in metal mines, as well as in caves (4), sea-bed sediments (2), and the Antarctic area (2). This article outlines the definitions, nomenclatures, classifications, and characteristics of organic minerals and summarizes the latest list of organic minerals. In addition, the relationships between organic minerals and crystalline biogenic substances are discussed to provide basic data for further research in this field.

Keywords

Organic mineral / Mineral definition / Classification / Characterization / Biomineral

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