What is a mineralogical class ?

Mineralogical class : definition

A mineralogical class groups together minerals with strong chemical similarities. The mineral kingdom is divided into 9 mineralogical classes :
These classes are themselves divided into subclasses. Silicates are thus subdivided into six subclasses : nesosilicates, sorosilicatescyclosilicates, inosilicates, phyllosilicates and tectosilicates.