Dana's classification[1][2] 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 classification of minerals was based on chemical composition by Dana in the fourth edition (1854, in two volumes) of his book System of Mineralogy.[5][6] 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.[7]
Classification 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.[8][9]
^Gaines, Richard V.; Dana, James Dwight; Dana, Edward Salisbury, eds. (1997). Dana's new mineralogy (8., ed. entirely rewritten and greatly enl ed.). New York, NY: Wiley.
ISBN978-0-471-19310-4.
Dana's classification[1][2] 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 classification of minerals was based on chemical composition by Dana in the fourth edition (1854, in two volumes) of his book System of Mineralogy.[5][6] 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.[7]
Classification 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.[8][9]
^Gaines, Richard V.; Dana, James Dwight; Dana, Edward Salisbury, eds. (1997). Dana's new mineralogy (8., ed. entirely rewritten and greatly enl ed.). New York, NY: Wiley.
ISBN978-0-471-19310-4.