[Rockhounds] lead-bearing Broken Hill orthoclase

[DonH]

J Bryan Kramer wrote:

> Geez why don't they just do what chemists do, call it lead (II) orthoclase.
> Perfectly transparent and obvious.


I agree, though the nomenclature for minerals has been set up to 
distinguish between whether it is a species where lead is a primary 
cation, or whether it is simply a lead-rich variety of an existing 
species that doesn't warrant its own unique name, etc.  I think we're 
stuck with those conventions for a while unless the mineral community 
agrees to a wholesale revision of the nomenclature, which would no doubt 
be accompanied by years of fretting, debate, fussing, and pontification, 
after which a number of people would deplore the final decision anyway.

best,
Don