Gemological Institute of America (GIA) researchers, in collaboration with scientists from the California Institute of Technology, recently confirmed a new mineral species, johnkoivulaite, which has been named in honour of the renowned microscopist and GIA researcher, John Koivula.
The 1.16 ct crystal – accepted by the International Mineralogical Association as a new mineral species – was discovered in the Mogok Valley of Myanmar by local gemologist Nay Myo.
GIA Senior Research Scientist, Aaron Palke, will present the newly-named mineral at the Geological Society of America (GSA) conference on 25 September in Phoenix, Arizona.
Executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer, Tom Moses, said the GIA is privileged to be able to name this mineral after John Koivula who has contributed largely to science and the gem and jewellery industry as a prominent gemologist and innovator in photomicrography.
“Discoveries such as this remind us of the importance of our mission-based research and of the numerous important contributions John has made in his more than four decades of scientific work,” Mr Palke said.
In 1986, Koivula co-authored with Edward J. Gübelin the immensely popular Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, followed by two additional volumes.
Koivula also wrote The Microworld of Diamonds and co-authored Geologica with Robert Coenraads. His many contributions have received broad acclaim, such as receiving the AGS’s Robert M. Shipley Award, AGA’s Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology and GIA’s Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement, among others.
Johnkoivulaite has a hexagonal crystal structure that resembles beryl and other members of the beryl group, such as pezzottaite.
Standard gemological testing gave a RI of 1.608, with a birefringence too small to accurately measure, an SG of 3.01, a hardness of 7½, a conchoidal fracture, vitreous luster, and no reaction to long-wave or short-wave UV.
This mineral is unique due to the strong pleochroism it shows from deep violet to nearly colourless when observed with polarised light.
A specimen of the new mineral now resides in the GIA museum collection, located at the Institute’s world headquarters in Carlsbad, California.
Johnkoivulaite shows strong pleochroism, going violet (left) to near-colorless (right) when examined with polarised light. Field of View:10.05mm. Photomicrographs by Nathan Renfro/GIA.
