An Overview of the Type Mineralogy of Africa

Out of the ca. five thousand five hundred valid mineral species currently known, about four hundred were initially described for localities in Africa. The first new mineral descriptions for this continent date from the late 18th century, but significant numbers have only been reached from the early 20th century onward. Up to now, the largest number of new species have been described in Namibia, the DR Congo and South Africa, with a considerable lead over all other countries. In this overview of the type mineralogy of Africa, regional variations and the history of new mineral descriptions are covered, combined with a discussion of some general aspects of mineral species’ validity and mineral nomenclature, based on examples from Africa.