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 were also edited by Christel Tennyson (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 book 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)). The IMA/CNMNC supports the Nickel–Strunz database.
Contents
Nickel–Strunz code scheme
The Nickel–Strunz code scheme is NN.XY.##x, where:
NN: Nickel–Strunz mineral class number
X: Nickel–Strunz mineral division letter
Y: Nickel–Strunz mineral family letter
##x: Nickel–Strunz mineral/group number; x an add-on letter
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 (including arsenides, antimonides, bismuthinides)
Class 02.H – 02.M: sulfosalts (including sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfobismuthites, 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