Nickel–Strunz classification is a scheme for categorizing minerals based upon their chemical composition, introduced by German mineralogist Karl Hugo Strunz (24 February 1910 – 19 April 2006) in his Mineralogische Tabellen (1941). The 4th and the 5th edition was edited by Christel Tennyson too (1966). It was followed by A.S. Povarennykh with a modified classification (1966 in Russian, 1972 in English).
As curator of the Mineralogical Museum of Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (now known as the Humboldt University of Berlin), Strunz had been tasked with sorting the museum's geological collection according to crystal-chemical properties. His Mineralogical Tables, has been through a number of modifications; the most recent edition, published in 2001, is the ninth (Mineralogical Tables by Hugo Strunz and Ernest H. Nickel (31 August 1925 – 18 July 2009)). James A. Ferraiolo was responsible for it at Mindat.org. The IMA/CNMNC supports the Nickel–Strunz database.
Nickel–Strunz mineral classes
The current scheme divides minerals into ten classes, which are further divided into divisions, families and groups according to chemical composition and crystal structure.
- elements
- sulfides and sulfosalts
- halides
- oxides, hydroxides and arsenites
- carbonates and nitrates
- borates
- sulfates, chromates, molybdates and tungstates
- phosphates, arsenates and vanadates
- silicates
- organic compounds
IMA/CNMNC mineral classes
IMA/CNMNC proposes a new hierarchical scheme (Mills et al. 2009), using the Nickel–Strunz classes (10 ed) this gives:
Classification of minerals (non silicates)
Nickel–Strunz class 01: Native Elements
Class: native elements
Nickel–Strunz class 02: Sulfides and Sulfosalts
Class 02.A – 02.G: sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides
Class 02.H – 02.M: sulfosalts; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.
Nickel–Strunz class 03: Halogenides
Class: halides
Nickel–Strunz class 04: Oxides
Class: oxides
Class: hydroxides
Class: arsenites (including antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites and tellurites)
Nickel–Strunz class 05: Carbonates and Nitrates
Class: carbonates
Class: nitrates
Nickel–Strunz class 06: Borates
Class: borates
Subclass: nesoborates
Subclass: soroborates
Subclass: cycloborates
Subclass: inoborates
Subclass: phylloborates
Subclass: tectoborates
Nickel–Strunz class 07: Sulfates, Selenates, Tellurates
Class: sulfates, selenates, tellurates
Class: chromates
Class: molybdates
Class: tungstates
Nickel–Strunz class 08: Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates
Class: phosphates
Class: arsenates
Class: vanadates
Nickel–Strunz class 10: Organic Compounds
Class: organic compounds
Classification of minerals (silicates)
Nickel–Strunz class 09: Silicates and Germanates
Class: silicates
Subclass 09.A: nesosilicates
Subclass 09.B: sorosilicates
Subclass 09.C: cyclosilicates
Subclass 09.D: inosilicates
Subclass 09.E: phyllosilicates
Subclass: tectosilicates
09.F: without zeolitic H2O
09.G: with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
Subclass 09.J: germanates