A recently discovered species of mineral will be named after John Koivula, the veteran GIA researcher and gemologist.
A 1.16 ct. crystal of the new mineral—now christened johnkoivulaite—was found in the Mogok Valley of Myanmar by local gemologist Nay Myo. It was confirmed as a new mineral species by the GIA and California Institute of Technology, and subsequently accepted as one by the International Mineralogical Association.
The mineral has a hexagonal crystal structure, similar to beryl and other members of the beryl group, such as pezzottaite. It has one unique quality: It changes colors, from deep violet (pictured, top) to nearly colorless, when observed with polarized light.
The new mineral can also look clear. (photo: Nathan Renfro)
A specimen of the new mineral now resides in the GIA museum collection, located at its Carlsbad, Calif., headquarters.
Koivula, the mineral’s namesake, has more than 40 years of industry experience in research and photomicrography. In 1986, he coauthored the first of three volumes of Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, with Edward J. Gübelin. His other books include The Microworld of Diamonds, released in 2000, and Geologica, written with Robert Coenraads.
He has also won the American Gem Society’s Robert M. Shipley award in 1996, the Accredited Gemologist Association’s Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology in 2002, and the GIA’s Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2010.
He was also a writer and technical consultant for the television series MacGyver.
Brecken Branstrator for National Jewelr wrote:
Carlsbad, Calif.—Researchers from the Gemological Institute of America, along with scientists from the California Institute of Technology, have confirmed a new mineral species and named it in honor of a well-known and respected gemologist.
A 1.16-carat crystal of the mineral now known as johnkoivulaite, named for renowned microscopist and GIA researcher John Koivula, was found in Myanmar’s Mogok Valley by local gemologist Nay Myo.
Koivula has more than 40 years of industry experience in research and photomicrography.
In 1986, he co-authored “Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones” with Edward J. Gübelin, which followed with two more volumes.
Koivula also wrote “The Microworld of Diamonds” and co-authored “Geologica” with Robert Coenraads.
His contributions to gemology have earned him several industry awards and honors, including the American Gem Society’s Robert M. Shipley Award, the Accredited Gemologists Association’s Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology and GIA’s Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement.
He also won first place in Nikon’s Small World Photomicrographic competition in 1984.
“We are privileged to be able to name this mineral after John Koivula who has contributed so much to science and the gem and jewelry industry as a prominent gemologist and innovator in photomicrography,” said Tom Moses, executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer at GIA.
“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.” Johnkoivulaite has been accepted by the International Mineralogical Association as a new mineral species.
According to GIA, it has a hexagonal crystal structure similar to beryl and other members of the beryl group.
Standard gemological testing gave the mineral an RI of 1.608, with a birefringence too small to accurately measure, and a hardness of 7.5.
It has a strong pleochroism from deep violet to nearly colorless when observed with polarized light, GIA added.
The institute has a specimen of johnkoivulaite in its museum collection at its headquarters in Carlsbad, California, and GIA Senior Research Scientist Aaron Palke will present the new mineral at the Geological Society of America conference later this month in Phoenix. DIRECT LINK
There are so few new discoveries of gem minerals, it's thrilling that this one is so particularly cool (non-fading purple beryl member!!!!!!) and of course John Koivula is about as deserving an honoree as you could name. (I suppose Koivulaite would have sounded too much like Covellite?)
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum