Open Adit™ - The Struntz Classification System

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Hugo Strunz's mineral classification system is a chemical-structural mineral classification system. All minerals are apportioned into one of ten classes according to their principal anionic constituents (Elements, Sulfides and sulphosalts, Halides, Oxides, Carbonates, Borates, Sulfates, Phosphates, arsenates and vanadates, Silicates and finally organic compounds).

Each of these ten classes is then broken down into divisions, subdivisions and groups, based on chemical composition and crystal structure. Within each chemical group the minerals are further subdivided into structural families and finally isostructural groups.

For each isostructural group, a brief description of the structure is given and then minerals are listed with the chemical formula, crystal system, space group and cell parameters. A simple alphanumeric coding system is applied to the various categories. This coding system has intentional gaps that permit the insertion of new categories of minerals yet to be discovered without disrupting the general classification scheme.

Classes	Class Groups
	-----
I	Elements
II	Sulfides
III	Halogenides
IV	Oxides
V	Carbonates and borates
VI	Sulfates, chromates, molybdates & tungstates
VII	Phosphates, arsenates and vanadates
VIII	Silicates
VIII / A	Nesosilicates
VIII / B	Nesosubsilicates
VIII / C	Sorosilicates
VIII / D	Unclassified silicates
VIII / E	Cyclosilicates
VIII / F	Inosilicates
VIII / G	Intermediate silicates
VIII / H	Phyllosilicates
VIII / J	Tectosilicates
XI	Organics

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