INI
Mineral Classification (Nickel-Strunz) - INI
The Nickel-Strunz classification is a mineral classification system based on chemical composition, introduced by German mineralogist Karl Hugo Strunz in 1941. Based on the anion composition of minerals, it categorizes them into 10 classes: native elements, sulfides, halides, oxides, carbonates, borates, sulfates, phosphates, silicates, and organic compounds. This classification is officially supported by the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (CNMNC) and is widely used in mineralogical databases worldwide.
mineralogy
mineral classification
Strunz classification
chemical composition
IMA
crystallography
[item.native-elements]
code=01
slug=native-elements
name=Native Elements
description=Minerals composed of single elements or their alloys.
examples=["Native Gold","Diamond","Native Copper","Sulfur"]
[item.sulfides-sulfosalts]
code=02
slug=sulfides-sulfosalts
name=Sulfides and Sulfosalts
description=Minerals formed by the combination of sulfur with metallic elements.
examples=["Sphalerite","Galena","Pyrite","Enargite"]
[item.halides]
code=03
slug=halides
name=Halides
description=Minerals formed by the combination of halogen elements (fluorine, chlorine, etc.) with metals.
examples=["Fluorite","Halite","Chlorargyrite","Cryolite"]
[item.oxides]
code=04
slug=oxides
name=Oxides
description=Minerals formed by the combination of oxygen with metallic elements, including hydroxides.
examples=["Spinel","Magnetite","Hematite","Corundum"]
[item.carbonates-nitrates]
code=05
slug=carbonates-nitrates
name=Carbonates and Nitrates
description=Minerals containing carbonate or nitrate ions.
examples=["Calcite","Malachite","Dolomite","Siderite"]
[item.borates]
code=06
slug=borates
name=Borates
description=Minerals primarily composed of boron and oxygen.
examples=["Borax","Ulexite","Colemanite","Howlite"]
[item.sulfates]
code=07
slug=sulfates
name=Sulfates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
description=Minerals containing sulfate, chromate, molybdate, or tungstate ions.
examples=["Gypsum","Barite","Crocoite","Scheelite"]
[item.phosphates-arsenates-vanadates]
code=08
slug=phosphates-arsenates-vanadates
name=Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
description=Minerals containing phosphate, arsenate, or vanadate ions.
examples=["Apatite","Turquoise","Vanadinite","Mimetite"]
[item.silicates]
code=09
slug=silicates
name=Silicates
description=The most diverse and abundant mineral group, primarily composed of silicon and oxygen.
examples=["Quartz","Feldspar","Mica","Tourmaline","Kaolinite"]
[item.organic-compounds]
code=10
slug=organic-compounds
name=Organic Compounds
description=Minerals primarily composed of organic compounds.
examples=["Mellite","Carpathite","Whewellite","Formicaite"]