What is mineral informatics?

Abstract Minerals are information-rich materials that offer researchers a glimpse into the evolution of planetary bodies. Thus, it is important to extract, analyze, and interpret this abundance information improve our understanding bodies in solar system role planet’s geosphere played origin life. Over past several decades, data-driven efforts mineralogy have seen gradual increase. The development application data science analytics methods mineralogy, while extremely promising, has also been somewhat ad hoc nature. To systematize synthesize direction these efforts, we introduce concept “Mineral Informatics,” which next frontier for working with mineral data. In paper, present vision Mineral Informatics X-Informatics underpinnings led its conception, as well needs, challenges, opportunities, future directions field. intention paper not create new specific field or sub-field separate silo, but document needs studying minerals various contexts fields study, demonstrate how systemization enhanced access mineralogical will increase cross- interdisciplinary studies, informatics key step integrative studies.