Recovering history: the process of determining type specimens of montanite: 150 years of the Mineralogical Society: Past Discoveries and Future Frontiers

2026-06-24

Michael S. Rumsey *

Owen P. Missen

Stuart J. Mills

DOI：10.1180/mgm.2026.10231

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Montanite; named by Frederick August Genth over 150 years ago for the Montana Territory was the world’s first naturally occurring tellurium oxysalt; but was designated ‘Q’ (questionable) by the IMA-CNMNC until our study in 2022. Like many minerals described in the 19th century it had no designated type specimen. Interrogation of institutional archives; contemporaneous publications and specimen labels reveals three distinct early occurrences; two of which are interpreted as co-type localities. In lieu of being able to conclusively identify or access the original type specimens for research; suitable surrogates were defined as neotypes that respected the historical precedence of the initial discoveries enabling montanite to be formally established as a mineral species. Especially for this historically themed edition of Mineralogical Magazine; this paper presents the process and a case-study of the historical research and decision-making required for new minerals; redefinitions or discreditations that are often out-of-scope of the academic journals that publish the resulting scientific research.

Keywords:

montanite

type specimen

Genth

Highland Montana

Davidson County North Carolina

historical mineralogy

Recovering history: the process of determining type specimens of montanite: 150 years of the Mineralogical Society: Past Discoveries and Future Frontiers

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