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Dana classification system

Mineral classification

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
3 min read
Source updated October 31, 2025

Dana's classification is a mineral classification developed by James Dwight Dana. It is based on the chemical composition and structure of minerals. It is mainly used in English-speaking countries, especially in the United States.

The mineral classification used by the International Mineralogical Association is the Nickel-Strunz classification.

01History

The classification of minerals was based on chemical composition by Dana in the fourth edition (1854, in two volumes) of his book System of Mineralogy. For the 20th century, this classification was completed thanks to scientific progress, particularly in the field of crystallography. In 1941, Karl Hugo Strunz used it to construct his classification. Dana's original classification was further developed, and a new classification was published in 1997.

02Classification structure

Minerals are arranged in a hierarchical system. Each mineral has a classification number, made up of four numbers separated by dots, enabling unambiguous identification even when minerals are known by several names (synonymy). The first number represents the mineral class. The second number represents the mineral type, in some cases taking into account its atomic structure. The third number represents a group of minerals of similar structure. The fourth number gives the unambiguous identification of the mineral.

03Example

Kieserite group.

  • 29. Acidic and normal hydrated sulfates
    • 29.06.: acid and normal hydrated sulfates of the formula AXO4-x(H2O)
      • 29.06.02.: kieserite group (monohydrates)
        • 29.06.02.01.: kieserite MgSO4-(H2O), space group C2/c
        • 29.06.02.02.: szomolnokite FeSO4-(H2O), space group A2/a
        • 29.06.02.03.: szmikite MnSO4-(H2O), space group A2/a
        • 29.06.02.04.: povinite (Cu,Fe,Zn)SO4-(H2O), space group P1
        • 29.06.02.05.: gunningite (Zn,Mn)SO4-(H2O), space group A2/a
        • 29.06.02.06.: dwornikite (Ni,Fe)SO4-(H2O), space group C2/c
        • 29.06.02.07.: cobaltkieserite CoSO4-H2O, space group C2/c

04Mineral classes

Elements Chemical element
Sulfides and sulfosalts
Oxides and hydroxides
Halides
Carbonates, nitrates

and borates
  • 14. Non-hydrated normal carbonate
  • 15. Normal hydrated carbonate
  • 16a. Carbonate containing hydroxyl anion or halogen
  • 16b. Carbonate containing hydroxyl anion or halogen
  • 17. Compound carbonates
  • 18. Simple nitrate
  • 19. Nitrates containing hydroxyl anion or halogens
  • 20. Compound nitrate
  • 21. Non-hydrated and hydrated iodate
  • 22. Iodates containing hydroxyl anion or halogen
  • 23. Compound iodate
  • 24. Non-hydrated borate
  • 25. Non-hydrated borate containing hydroxyl anion or halogens
  • 26. Hydrated borate containing hydroxyl anion or halogens
  • 27. Compound borate
Sulfates, chromates

and molybdates
  • 28. Acidic and normal non-hydrated sulfates
  • 29. Acid and normal hydrated sulfates
  • 30. Non-hydrated sulfates containing hydroxyl anion or halogens
  • 31. Hydrated sulfates containing hydroxyl anion or halogens
  • 32. Compound sulfates
  • 33. Selenates and telluratess
  • 34. Selenites, tellurites and sulfites
  • 35. Non-hydrated chromates
  • 36. Hydrated chromates
Phosphates, arsenates

and vanadates
  • 37. Non-hydrated acid phosphates
  • 38. Non-hydrated normal phosphates
  • 39. Acid phosphates, hydrated
  • 40. Normal phosphates, hydrated
  • 41. Non-hydrated phosphates containing hydroxyl anion or halogens
  • 42. Hydrated phosphates containing hydroxyl anion or halogens
  • 43. Compound phosphates
  • 44. Antimoniates
  • 45. Acid and normal antimonites, arsenites, and phosphites
  • 46. Basic or halogen-containing antimonites, arsenites, and phosphites
  • 47. Vanadium oxysalts
  • 48. Molybdates and tungstates
  • 49. Basic and hydrated molybdates and tungstates
Organic minerals
Silicates and germanates
  • 51. Nesosilicates containing only isolated [SiO4] tetrahedral groups
  • 52. Groups of [SiO4] tetrahedra with O, OH, F, and H2O
  • 53. Groups of [SiO4] tetrahedra with other anions or complex cations
  • 54. Borosilicates and some beryllosilicates with [BO3].
  • 55. Groups Si2O7, generally without additional anion
  • 56. Groups Si2O7 with O, OH, F, and H2O
  • 57. Insular (Si3O10) and larger non-cyclic groups with Si3O10
  • 58. Insular, mixed, isolated, and larger tetrahedral groups
  • 59. Three-membered rings [Si3O9].
  • 60. Four-membered rings [Si4O12].
  • 61. Six-membered rings [Si6O18].
  • 62. Eight-membered rings [Si8O24].
  • 63. Cyclosilicates with condensed rings
  • 64. Rings with other anions and isolated [SiO4] groups
  • 65. Unbranched simple chains, periodicity W=1
  • 66. Unbranched double chains, periodicity W=2
  • 67. Unbranched chains, periodicity W > 2
  • 68. Structures with variable chain widths
  • 69. Chains branched to other chains or loops
  • 70. Tubular or columnar structures
  • 71. Six-member ring layers
  • 72. Infinite layers without six-member rings
  • 73. Condensed tetrahedron layers
  • 74. Modulated layers
  • 75. Tectosilicates
  • 76. Aluminum and silicon networks
  • 77. Zeolite group
  • Unclassified silicates
  • 78. Unclassified silicates
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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Dana classification system”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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Related topics

James Dwight Dana

James Dwight Dana FRS FRSE was an American geologist, mineralogist, volcanologist, and zoologist. He made pioneering studies of mountain-building, volcanic activity, and the origin and structure of continents and oceans around the world.

Mineral

In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid substance with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form. The geological definition of mineral normally excludes compounds that occur only in living organisms.

Nickel-Strunz classification

Nickel-Strunz classification is a scheme for categorizing minerals based upon their chemical composition, introduced by German mineralogist Karl Hugo Strunz in his Mineralogische Tabellen (1941). The 4th and the 5th edition were also edited by Christel Tennyson (1966).