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Sulfate

Minerals containing the sulfate anion (SO₄²⁻). Common sulfates include gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O), barite (BaSO₄), celestine (SrSO₄), …

Phosphate

Minerals containing the phosphate anion (PO₄³⁻). Includes the apatite group, turquoise, lazulite, monazite, and many …

Telluride

Minerals containing tellurium as the dominant anion combined with metals. Gold tellurides such as calaverite …

Sulfide

Minerals containing sulfur as the dominant anion bonded to metals. The sulfide class includes major …

Hydroxide

Minerals containing the hydroxyl anion (OH⁻) as the dominant group. Includes goethite (FeOOH), brucite (Mg(OH)₂), …

Chromate

Minerals containing the chromate anion (CrO₄²⁻). Crocoite (PbCrO₄) is the most famous chromate mineral, known …

Vanadate

Minerals containing the vanadate anion (VO₄³⁻), often forming brightly colored secondary minerals in oxidized ore …

Native Element

Minerals consisting of a single element in uncombined form. The native element class includes native …

Halide

Minerals in which a halogen element (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine) is the dominant anion. Examples …

Oxide

Minerals formed by direct combination of a cation with oxygen, without additional complex anions. Includes …

Tungstate

Minerals containing the tungstate anion (WO₄²⁻). Important tungstate minerals include scheelite (CaWO₄), which fluoresces bright …

Nitrate

Minerals containing the nitrate anion (NO₃⁻), found mainly in arid regions. Niter (KNO₃) and soda …

Molybdate

Minerals containing the molybdate anion (MoO₄²⁻). Wulfenite (PbMoO₄) is the most collectable molybdate, prized for …

Arsenate

Minerals containing the arsenate anion (AsO₄³⁻), typically forming in the oxidized zones of arsenic-bearing ore …

Tectosilicate

A silicate mineral subclass in which every SiO₄ tetrahedron shares all four oxygen atoms with …

Cyclosilicate

A silicate mineral subclass in which SiO₄ tetrahedra link into closed rings, typically three-membered (Si₃O₉) …

Silicate

The largest mineral class, defined by the presence of SiO₄ tetrahedra as the fundamental building …

Carbonate

Minerals containing the carbonate anion (CO₃²⁻). The carbonate class includes calcite (CaCO₃), dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂), malachite, …

Borate

Minerals containing boron and oxygen as the dominant anionic complex. Borates are concentrated in evaporite …

Sorosilicate

A silicate mineral subclass in which SiO₄ tetrahedra are linked in pairs sharing one oxygen, …