Recently, the supergroup classification and naming scheme of carbon strontium cerium ore established by the international research team led by Hou Zengqian, an academician of the CAS Member, was officially approved by the New Mineral Naming and Classification Committee of the International Mineral Society (IMA-CNMNC). This is the first mineral superfamily classification and naming system established under the leadership of a Chinese scientific research team. This study was conducted in collaboration with seven institutions: China University of Geosciences (Beijing), University of Padua, National Museum of Science of Japan, Moscow State University, Central South University, Tianjin Geological Survey Center of China Geological Survey, and Nanjing University. What are the members of the carbon strontium cerium ore superfamily? What does the approval of the classification naming scheme mean? The reporter from Science and Technology Daily interviewed Academician Hou Zengqian from the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and Professor Dong Guochen from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) who participated in the research. The carbon strontium cerium ore superfamily is a newly established mineral superfamily. Can you provide a detailed introduction to it? Hou Zengqian: The English name for the carbon strontium cerium ore superfamily is AncyliteSupergroup. According to the naming rules of the International Mineral Society for mineral families, this English name is taken from the name of the first discovered mineral species of the family, Ancylite, as the root of the mineral family. Based on its often curved and twisted crystal features, the root of the word is taken from the Greek“ αγκυλ??”， It means "curved". The carbon strontium cerium ore superfamily is a hydrated rare earth carbonate mineral, usually produced in the form of accessory minerals in alkaline or carbonate rocks. It is an important carrier mineral for light rare earth and large ion lithophilic elements. Rare earth elements, due to their unique physical and chemical properties, are widely used in fields such as new energy, new materials, energy conservation and environmental protection, aerospace, and electronic information. They are indispensable and important elements in modern industry. The carbon strontium cerium ore superfamily is divided into two mineral groups: carbon strontium cerium ore and carbon lanthanide ore. Up to now, a total of 10 species of carbon strontium cerium ore supergroup minerals have been discovered in nature, including the new mineral carbon calcium lanthanide ore we discovered in 2022. What is the relationship between mineral species, mineral families, and mineral superfamilies? How many mineral species, mineral families, and mineral superfamilies are there in the world? How is the research progress in related fields in China? Dong Guochen: Minerals can be classified based on their main chemical composition and structural characteristics. According to the classification hierarchy, the subordinate relationship from low to high is: mineral species → mineral family → mineral superfamily → mineral major category. The mineral family and mineral superfamily are the basic classification units for identifying and dividing minerals with similar chemical composition and crystal structure properties. As of 2023, a total of 5900 minerals have been discovered worldwide, of which 181 are effective new minerals discovered in China, accounting for only 3% of the world's total minerals. There are a total of 469 mineral families worldwide (including 31 independent mineral families under non mineral superfamilies), 34 mineral superfamilies, and 9 major mineral categories. Due to the late start of new mineral research in our country, the research on developing classification and naming schemes for mineral (superfamily) groups has been monopolized by Western countries for a long time. It was not until recently that China achieved zero breakthroughs in the classification and naming fields of mineral groups and mineral superfamilies.