Ramazzoite is the first mineral found in nature that contains a polyoxometalate cation, or positively charged ion. Polyoxometalate ions are made up of clusters of metal atoms bound together by oxygen atoms. While scientists have produced many compounds with polyoxometalate anions (negatively charged ions) in the laboratory, polyoxometalate cations are extremely rare. Another unique feature of ramazzoite is that it has a large variety of anions. Typically, a mineral has just one or two types of anion, but ramazzoite contains four–phosphate, carbonate, hydroxide, and sulfate–making ramazzoite a truly extraordinary find.

Read more about ramazzoite: One of Two New Carbon Minerals is First of Its Kind