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SYSTEMATIC CLASSIFICATION of the MINERALS

                     based on H. Strunz & E.H. Nickel (2001),
                     revised by Thomas Witzke (2024)



To the Extended explanation of the classification principles (under construction)




1. ELEMENTS
(Metals and intermetallic alloys, Metalloids and Nonmetals, Hydrides, Borides, Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides, Oxy-Titanides)

1.A: Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
1.B: Metallic Hydrides, Borides, Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides and Oxy-Titanides
1.C: Metalloids and Nonmetals
1.D: Nonmetallic Carbides and Nitrides



2. SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS
(Sulfides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides, Antimonides, Bismuthides, Sulfarsenites, Sulfantimonites, Sulfbismuthites)

2.A: Metal-Metalloid alloys
2.B: Metalsulfides, M : S > 1 : 1 (mainly 2 : 1)
2.C: Metalsulfides, M : S = 1 : 1 (and similar)
2.D: Metalsulfides, M : S = 3 : 4 and 2 : 3
2.E: Metalsulfides, M : S < = 1 : 2
2.F: Sulfosalts with atom ratio of cation/chalcogen = 1
2.G: Lead sulfosalts with a pronounced 2D architecture, their derivatives with a composite

        structure, and related compounds
2.H: Lead sulfosalts based on large 2D fragments of PbS/SnS archetype
2.J: Sulfosalts based on 1D derivatives of PbS/SnS archetype, i.e., on rod-type building blocks
2.K: Specific Tl(Pb) and Hg sulfosalts
2.L: Sulfosalts with an excess of small (univalent) cations (Ag, Cu) relative to (As, Sb, Bi);

        unclassified sulfosalts and possible sulfosalts
2.M: Sulfarsenates
2.N: Sulfides with Alkalies or Alkali-Earths, Sulfides with Halides, Oxide, Hydroxide, Water
2.O: Sulfides with Halides
2.P: Sulfides of Arsenic, Oxy-Sulfides of Antimony



3. HALIDES
(Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides, Iodides)

3.A: Simple Halides, without water
3.B: Simple Halides, with water
3.C: Complex Halides
3.D: Oxyhalides, Hydroxyhalides and related double Halides



4. OXIDES, HYDROXIDES
(Oxides, Hydroxides, V[5,6]-Vanadates, Arsenites, Antimonites, Bismuthites, Sulfites, Selenites, Tellurites, Iodates)

4.A: Metal : Oxygen = 2 : 1 and 1 : 1
4.B: Metal : Oxygen = 3 : 4 and similar
4.C: Metal : Oxygen = 2 : 3, 3 : 5 and similar
4.D: Metal : Oxygen = 1 : 2 and similar
4.E: Metal : Oxygen < 1 : 2
4.F: Hydroxides (without V or U)
4.G: Uranylhydroxides
4.H: V[5,6]-Vanadates and W[6]-Tungsten bronze
4.J: Arsenites, Antimonites, Bismuthites
4.K: Sulfites, Selenites, Tellurites (Te4+O3), Tellurates (Te6+O6)
4.L: Iodates



5. CARBONATES
(Carbonates, Nitrates)

5.A: Carbonates without additional anions, without water
5.B: Carbonates with additional anions, without water
5.C: Carbonates without additional anions, with water
5.D: Carbonates with additional anions, with water
5.E: Uranylcarbonates
5.F: Nitrates



6. BORATES

6.A: Nesoborates
6.B: Soroborates
6.C: Cycloborates
6.D: Inoborates
6.E: Phylloborates
6.F: Tectoborates
6.G: Unclassified borates



7. SULFATES
(Sulfates, Selenates, Tellurates, Chromates, Molybdates, Wolframates)

7.A: Sulfates etc. without additional anions, without water
7.B: Sulfates etc. with additional anions, without water
7.C: Sulfates etc. without additional anions, with water
7.D: Sulfates etc. with additional anions, with water
7.E: Uranylsulfates
7.F: Chromates
7.G: Molybdates and Wolframates
7.H: Uranium- and Uranylmolybdates and -wolframates
7.J: Thiosulfates



8. PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

8.A: Phosphate etc. without additional anions, without water
8.B: Phosphate etc. with additional anions, without water
8.C: Phosphate etc. without additional anions, with water
8.D: Phosphate etc. with additional anions, with water
8.E: Uranylphosphates and -arsenates
8.F: Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates



9. SILICATES
(Silicates, Germanates)

9.A: Nesosilicates
9.B: Sorosilicates
9.C: Cyclosilicates
9.D: Inosilicates
9.E: Phyllosilicates
9.F: Tectosilicates without zeolithic water
9.G: Tectosilicates with zeolitic water, Zeolite family
9.H: Unclassified Silicates



10. ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

10.A: Salts of organic acids
10.B: Hydrocarbons
10.C: Miscellaneous Organic Minerals



Note:
In the tables with the mineral groups, all grandfathered and IMA accepted minerals, and all redefined or renamed minerals with IMA approval are written in bold.
Questionable minerals or minerals published without IMA approval are written in normal letters.




References:
Strunz, H. & Nickel, E. (2001): Strunz Mineralogical Tables.- 9th. ed., E. Schweizerbarth

Nickel, E.H. & Nichols, M.C. (2007): IMA / CNMNC List of Mineral Names.- http://www.geo.vu.nl/users/ima-cnmmn/MINERALlist.pdf




© Thomas Witzke (2024)

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