Mineral Classes
Minerals are divided into classes depending upon their chemical composition.
Classes:
1.Element class:It is the class where minerals are their natural elements such as Gold,Silver,Copper,Antimony,Sulfur,Graphite,Bismuth.
2.Silicate class:They are the hugest mineral group and consist mainly of Silicon and Oxygen with some other ions such as Iron,Aluminum and Calcium are a few examples.Some silicate examples are Quartz,Feldspars and Garnets.
3.Sulfide class:It is the class where minerals contain sulfur and some metal in their composition,For example Pyrite which contains Sulfur and Iron (Iron Sulfide).
4.Oxide class:It is the class where the minerals consists of Oxygen and some metals,For example Hematite (Iron Oxide).
5.Halides class:It is the class where minerals consist of Metal and the Halogen elements,For example Fluorite (Calcium Fluoride).
6.Carbonate class:It is the class where minerals have (CO3)2− in their chemical composition,For example Calcite (Calcium Carbonate).
7.Sulfate class:It is the class where minerals have SO4 2- in their chemical composition,for example Gypsum (Hydrated Calcium Sulfate).
8.Phosphate class:It is the class where minerals have Z O4 In their chemical composition where Z can be Arsenic,Antimony,Vanadium and Phosphorus.An example of a Phosphate is Apatite Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl).
9.Organic class:It is minerals formed with some geological processes and contain some biological substances,Such as the Resin found In Amber.
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