Nikmelnikovite, Ca12Fe2+Fe3+3Al3(SiO4)6(OH)20, a new mineral from Kovdor massif (Kola peninsula, Russia)

Abstract

Nikmelnikovite, Ca12Fe2+Fe3+3Al3(SiO4)6(OH)20, is a new mineral from the Kovdor massif, Kola peninsula, Russian Federation. It is the first trigonal member of the garnet supergroup. The mineral is named in honor of Academician Nikolay Nikolaevich Melnikov (1938-2018), an outstanding Soviet and Russian mining engineer, long-time (1981-2015) director of the Mining Institute of the Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences.