After recalling some basic principles of knowledge theory regarding concept formation in general, the author is studying the development of the mineral species concept in line with progress in crystallography, chemistry and mineralogy. This concept is now based on the determination of the structure of the crystalline pattern (using the diffraction of X-rays) and its chemical nature. The author then quickly sets out the principles of mineralogical classifications (chemico-crystallographic and paragenetic classifications) and lithological classifications (chemico-mineralogical and zoneographical classifications). It introduces the concept of a level of observation in the various areas of structural evolution of terrestrial material (mountain ranges and continents, rocks, crystals). Orcel Jean. Test of species concept, mineralogy and petrography classifications. In: Bulletin of the Société française de mineralogie et de crylography, Volume 77, 1-3, 1954. Seventy-fifth anniversary of French mineralogy society 1878-1953. pp. 397-432.