The six families we will investigate include the sulfides, sulfates, oxides, halides, carbonates, borates, and silicates. Sulfides and sulfates all have sulfur in the anion. For example galena is a sulfide and its composition is PbS. The sulfides mainly are metallic. The sulfates include the radical SO₄ and include minerals that are nonmetallic. These can include gypsum.

Some families have an anion that is related to oxygen. Oxides contain a anion that is usually a metal in combination with oxygen. For example, hematite is iron plus oxygen (Fe₂O₃). Carbonates include the CO₃ radical and includes minerals like calcite. Borates contain the BO₃ group and include minerals like borax and ulexite. Sulfates also have oxygen within its radical.

Silicates form the largest chemical class among the minerals. They contain various elements in different combination like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron in combination with silicon and oxygen. They have very complex chemical structures.

Galena - a sulfide

Okenite - a silicate

Fluorite - a halide