Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

Previous page Table of contents Next page

Chemical Classification (Taxonomy)

Definition:

Observations:

1. This field is used for documenting specimens in mineralogy collections.
2. For better search results in your database, avoid a large variety of terms; draw up an authority list and add keywords as necessary. For mineralogical specimens, you can use the following authority list:¹
   
   

   native elements
   sulphides and sulphosalts
   halides
   oxides and hydroxides
   carbonates and borates
   sulphates, chromates, molybdates, tungstates
   phosphates, arseniates, vanadates
   silicates
   	nesosilicates
   	sorosilicates
   	cyclosilicates
   	inosilicates
   	phyllosilicates
   	tectosilicates
   organic compounds

Entry rules:

1. Enter the full name of the chemical classification; do not use abbreviations.
   Example

   	Discipline	mineralogy
   	Species	calcite
   	Chemical Classification	carbonates and borates

2. First enter the name of the chemical classification, followed if necessary by a comma, a space and the name of the sub-class.
   Example

   	Discipline	mineralogy
   	Species	quartz
   	Chemical Classification	silicates, tectosilicates

3. This field may not contain more than one entry. If the specimen contains several minerals with different classifications, enter only the name of the classification of the species that is the subject of the record.
   Example

   A specimen containing approximately 40% galena and 20% calcite

   	Discipline	mineralogy
   	Species	galena
   	Chemical Classification	sulphides and sulphosalts
   	Associated Species	calcite

4. If you are unsure whether your information is correct, include a space and a question mark after the name of the classification.