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Elements: Many pure elements are found in the form of minerals in ores or mines. For example, uncombined carbon is often found in its pure state in the form of graphite or more rarely as diamond. Gold, silver and sulfur are other elements which are also found in its pure state. Even though these are pure elements they qualify to be known as minerals, but no chemical process is required on them further.

Oxides: When an ore is found in which one or more elements are combined with oxygen, it is an oxide mineral. These may have chemical formulas of type XO (MgO, ZnO, CuO, etc.), X2O (Cu2O), X2O3 (Al2O3, Fe2O3), XO2 (MnO2, SnO2) and XY2O4 (MgAl2O4, FeCr2O4). The oxide minerals, are mostly of metallic elements. Example: hematite, magnetite, cuprite. Silicates and oxides are the most common types of minerals in volcanoes, especially after an eruption.

Carbonates: The carbonate type of minerals are formed when a single carbonate ion (CO32-) reacts with a metal ion of complementing polarity. Example: siderite (FeCO3), smithsonite (ZnCO3), calcite (CaCO3). Carbonate minerals are used in making cement and other bonding material.

Sulphates: The mineral class which includes the sulfate ion (SO42-) within its molecular structure, is categorized as sulphate mineral. Minerals like Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and Barite (BaSO4) are examples of sulphate minerals.

Organic Minerals: This class of minerals include biogenic substances, genesis or origin of which can be attributed to a geological processes. Organic minerals include all types of oxalates, mellitates, citrates, cyanates, acetates, formates, hydrocarbons, etc. Example of organic mineral includes whewellite, moolooite, mellite, fichtelite, carpathite, evenkite and abelsonite.