The sulfate minerals are a class of minerals that include the sulfate ion (SO42−) within their structure. The sulfate minerals occur commonly in primary evaporite depositional environments, as gangue minerals in hydrothermal veins and as secondary minerals in the oxidizing zone of sulfide mineral deposits. The chromate and manganate minerals have a similar structure and are often included with the sulfates in mineral classification systems.
Sulfate minerals include:
Anhydrous sulfates
Barite BaSO4
Celestite SrSO4
Anglesite PbSO4
Anhydrite CaSO4
Hanksite Na22K(SO4)9(CO3)2Cl
Hydroxide and hydrous sulfates
Gypsum CaSO4·2H2O
Chalcanthite CuSO4·5H2O
Kieserite MgSO4·H2O
Starkeyite MgSO4·4H2O
Hexahydrite MgSO4·6H2O
Epsomite MgSO4·7H2O
Meridianiite MgSO4·11H2O
Melanterite FeSO4·7H2O
Antlerite Cu3SO4(OH)4
Brochantite Cu4SO4(OH)6
Alunite KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Jarosite KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
IMA-CNMNC proposes a new hierarchical scheme (Mills et al., 2009). This list uses it to modify the Classification of Nickel–Strunz (mindat.org, 10 ed, pending publication).
Abbreviations:
"" – discredited (IMA/CNMNC status).
"?" – questionable/doubtful (IMA/CNMNC status).
"REE" – Rare-earth element (Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu)
"PGE" – Platinum-group element (Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt)
03.C Aluminofluorides, 06 Borates, 08 Vanadates (04.H V[5,6] Vanadates), 09 Silicates:
Neso: insular (from Greek νησος nēsos, island)
Soro: grouping (from Greek σωροῦ sōros, heap, mound (especially of corn))
Cyclo: ring
Ino: chain (from Greek ις [genitive: ινος inos], fibre)
Phyllo: sheet (from Greek φύλλον phyllon, leaf)
Tekto: three-dimensional framework
Nickel–Strunz code scheme: NN.XY.##x
NN: Nickel–Strunz mineral class number
X: Nickel–Strunz mineral division letter
Y: Nickel–Strunz mineral family letter
##x: Nickel–Strunz mineral/group number, x add-on letter
07.A Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without Additional Anions, without H2O
07.AB With medium-sized cations: 05 Millosevichite, 05 Mikasaite; 10 Chalcocyanite, 10 Zincosite
07.