Any member of a family of minerals that contain the Carbonate ion (CO₃)_2- as the basic structural and compositional unit.

Any member of a family of minerals that contain the Phosphate ion as the basic structural unit.

Minerals with Silicon-Oxygen combinations as simple as SiO2 to much more complex silicon-oxygen combinations as Si₀O₂₆.

Any member of a family of minerals that contain the Sulfate anion SO₄.

Includes those minerals in which the Oxide anion O^2- is bonded to one or more metal ions.

Minerals found in their uncombined or pure elemental state. They form three major groupings: metals, semi-metals, non-metals.

Mainly compounds of metals and semi-metals with Sulfur S.

Natural glass formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts.

Those minerals with dominant Halide anion (F^-, CL^-, BR^-, and I^-). Complex Halide minerals also have molecular anions.

Organic compounds in mineral form. There are three classes of organic minerals, hydrocarbons, salts of organic acids, and miscellaneous.