<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?><InstanceReport xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"><Version>2.2.0.25</Version><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios><ReportLongName>1500 - Disclosure - Major Classes of Inventories (Detail)</ReportLongName><DisplayLabelColumn>true</DisplayLabelColumn><ShowElementNames>false</ShowElementNames><RoundingOption>In Millions</RoundingOption><HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports><Columns><Column><Id>1</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><LabelColumn>false</LabelColumn><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><FootnoteIndexer /><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios><MCU><KeyName>12/31/2010
USD ($)

USD ($) / shares
</KeyName><CurrencySymbol>$</CurrencySymbol><contextRef><ContextID>AS_OF_Dec31_2010</ContextID><EntitySchema>http://www.sec.gov/CIK</EntitySchema><EntityValue>0000773910</EntityValue><PeriodDisplayName /><PeriodType>instant</PeriodType><PeriodStartDate>2010-12-31T00:00:00</PeriodStartDate><PeriodEndDate>0001-01-01T00:00:00</PeriodEndDate><Segments /><Scenarios /></contextRef><UPS><UnitProperty><UnitID>USD</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>USD</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>iso4217</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>Pure</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>pure</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>xbrli</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>MMboe</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.anadarko.com/20101231</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>MMboe</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>apc</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>Shares</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>shares</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>xbrli</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>Bcf</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.anadarko.com/20101231</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>Bcf</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>apc</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>usdPerShr</UnitID><UnitType>Divide</UnitType><NumeratorMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>USD</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>iso4217</MeasureNamespace></NumeratorMeasure><DenominatorMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>shares</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>xbrli</MeasureNamespace></DenominatorMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty></UPS><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><OriginalCurrencyCode>USD</OriginalCurrencyCode></MCU><CurrencySymbol>$</CurrencySymbol><Labels><Label Id="1" Label="Dec. 31, 2010" /></Labels></Column><Column><Id>2</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><LabelColumn>false</LabelColumn><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><FootnoteIndexer /><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios><MCU><KeyName>12/31/2009
USD ($)

USD ($) / shares

</KeyName><CurrencySymbol>$</CurrencySymbol><contextRef><ContextID>AS_OF_Dec31_2009</ContextID><EntitySchema>http://www.sec.gov/CIK</EntitySchema><EntityValue>0000773910</EntityValue><PeriodDisplayName /><PeriodType>instant</PeriodType><PeriodStartDate>2009-12-31T00:00:00</PeriodStartDate><PeriodEndDate>0001-01-01T00:00:00</PeriodEndDate><Segments /><Scenarios /></contextRef><UPS><UnitProperty><UnitID>USD</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>USD</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>iso4217</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>Shares</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>shares</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>xbrli</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>Bcf</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.anadarko.com/20101231</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>Bcf</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>apc</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>Pure</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>pure</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>xbrli</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>usdPerShr</UnitID><UnitType>Divide</UnitType><NumeratorMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>USD</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>iso4217</MeasureNamespace></NumeratorMeasure><DenominatorMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>shares</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>xbrli</MeasureNamespace></DenominatorMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty><UnitProperty><UnitID>MMboe</UnitID><UnitType>Standard</UnitType><StandardMeasure><MeasureSchema>http://www.anadarko.com/20101231</MeasureSchema><MeasureValue>MMboe</MeasureValue><MeasureNamespace>apc</MeasureNamespace></StandardMeasure><Scale>0</Scale></UnitProperty></UPS><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><OriginalCurrencyCode>USD</OriginalCurrencyCode></MCU><CurrencySymbol>$</CurrencySymbol><Labels><Label Id="1" Label="Dec. 31, 2009" /></Labels></Column></Columns><Rows><Row><Id>5</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><Level>0</Level><ElementName>us-gaap_EnergyRelatedInventoryPetroleum</ElementName><ElementPrefix>us-gaap</ElementPrefix><IsBaseElement>true</IsBaseElement><BalanceType>debit</BalanceType><PeriodType>instant</PeriodType><ShortDefinition>No definition available.</ShortDefinition><IsReportTitle>false</IsReportTitle><IsSegmentTitle>false</IsSegmentTitle><IsSubReportEnd>false</IsSubReportEnd><IsCalendarTitle>false</IsCalendarTitle><IsTuple>false</IsTuple><IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow>false</IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow><IsEquityAdjustmentRow>false</IsEquityAdjustmentRow><IsBeginningBalance>false</IsBeginningBalance><IsEndingBalance>false</IsEndingBalance><IsReverseSign>false</IsReverseSign><PreferredLabelRole>verboselabel</PreferredLabelRole><FootnoteIndexer /><Cells><Cell><Id>1</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>126000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>126</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>true</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell><Cell><Id>2</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>97000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>97</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>true</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell></Cells><OriginalInstanceReportColumns /><Unit>Monetary</Unit><ElementDataType>xbrli:monetaryItemType</ElementDataType><SimpleDataType>monetary</SimpleDataType><ElementDefenition>Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of petroleum or crude oil.</ElementDefenition><ElementReferences>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
 -Publisher SEC
 -Name Regulation S-X (SX)
 -Number 210
 -Section 02
 -Paragraph 6
 -Subparagraph a
 -Article 5

</ElementReferences><IsTotalLabel>false</IsTotalLabel><IsEPS>false</IsEPS><Label>Crude Oil</Label></Row><Row><Id>6</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><Level>0</Level><ElementName>us-gaap_EnergyRelatedInventoryNaturalGasInStorage</ElementName><ElementPrefix>us-gaap</ElementPrefix><IsBaseElement>true</IsBaseElement><BalanceType>debit</BalanceType><PeriodType>instant</PeriodType><ShortDefinition>No definition available.</ShortDefinition><IsReportTitle>false</IsReportTitle><IsSegmentTitle>false</IsSegmentTitle><IsSubReportEnd>false</IsSubReportEnd><IsCalendarTitle>false</IsCalendarTitle><IsTuple>false</IsTuple><IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow>false</IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow><IsEquityAdjustmentRow>false</IsEquityAdjustmentRow><IsBeginningBalance>false</IsBeginningBalance><IsEndingBalance>false</IsEndingBalance><IsReverseSign>false</IsReverseSign><PreferredLabelRole>verboselabel</PreferredLabelRole><FootnoteIndexer /><Cells><Cell><Id>1</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>64000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>64</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>false</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell><Cell><Id>2</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>94000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>94</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>false</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell></Cells><OriginalInstanceReportColumns /><Unit>Monetary</Unit><ElementDataType>xbrli:monetaryItemType</ElementDataType><SimpleDataType>monetary</SimpleDataType><ElementDefenition>Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of natural gas in storage, which is a mixture of gases (liquefied or otherwise), used for fuel and manufacturing purposes, which is ready for sale.</ElementDefenition><ElementReferences>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
 -Publisher SEC
 -Name Regulation S-X (SX)
 -Number 210
 -Section 02
 -Paragraph 6
 -Subparagraph a
 -Article 5

</ElementReferences><IsTotalLabel>false</IsTotalLabel><IsEPS>false</IsEPS><Label>Natural gas</Label></Row><Row><Id>7</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><Level>0</Level><ElementName>us-gaap_EnergyRelatedInventoryNaturalGasLiquids</ElementName><ElementPrefix>us-gaap</ElementPrefix><IsBaseElement>true</IsBaseElement><BalanceType>debit</BalanceType><PeriodType>instant</PeriodType><ShortDefinition>No definition available.</ShortDefinition><IsReportTitle>false</IsReportTitle><IsSegmentTitle>false</IsSegmentTitle><IsSubReportEnd>false</IsSubReportEnd><IsCalendarTitle>false</IsCalendarTitle><IsTuple>false</IsTuple><IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow>false</IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow><IsEquityAdjustmentRow>false</IsEquityAdjustmentRow><IsBeginningBalance>false</IsBeginningBalance><IsEndingBalance>false</IsEndingBalance><IsReverseSign>false</IsReverseSign><PreferredLabelRole>verboselabel</PreferredLabelRole><FootnoteIndexer /><Cells><Cell><Id>1</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>61000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>61</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>false</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell><Cell><Id>2</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>45000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>45</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>false</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell></Cells><OriginalInstanceReportColumns /><Unit>Monetary</Unit><ElementDataType>xbrli:monetaryItemType</ElementDataType><SimpleDataType>monetary</SimpleDataType><ElementDefenition>Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of liquid hydrocarbon components recovered from natural gas.</ElementDefenition><ElementReferences>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
 -Publisher SEC
 -Name Regulation S-X (SX)
 -Number 210
 -Section 02
 -Paragraph 6
 -Subparagraph a
 -Article 5

</ElementReferences><IsTotalLabel>false</IsTotalLabel><IsEPS>false</IsEPS><Label>NGLs</Label></Row><Row><Id>8</Id><IsAbstractGroupTitle>false</IsAbstractGroupTitle><Level>0</Level><ElementName>us-gaap_EnergyRelatedInventory</ElementName><ElementPrefix>us-gaap</ElementPrefix><IsBaseElement>true</IsBaseElement><BalanceType>debit</BalanceType><PeriodType>instant</PeriodType><ShortDefinition>No definition available.</ShortDefinition><IsReportTitle>false</IsReportTitle><IsSegmentTitle>false</IsSegmentTitle><IsSubReportEnd>false</IsSubReportEnd><IsCalendarTitle>false</IsCalendarTitle><IsTuple>false</IsTuple><IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow>false</IsEquityPrevioslyReportedAsRow><IsEquityAdjustmentRow>false</IsEquityAdjustmentRow><IsBeginningBalance>false</IsBeginningBalance><IsEndingBalance>false</IsEndingBalance><IsReverseSign>false</IsReverseSign><PreferredLabelRole>totallabel</PreferredLabelRole><FootnoteIndexer /><Cells><Cell><Id>1</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>251000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>251</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>true</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell><Cell><Id>2</Id><IsNumeric>true</IsNumeric><IsRatio>false</IsRatio><DisplayZeroAsNone>false</DisplayZeroAsNone><NumericAmount>236000000</NumericAmount><RoundedNumericAmount>236</RoundedNumericAmount><NonNumbericText /><NonNumericTextHeader /><FootnoteIndexer /><CurrencyCode /><CurrencySymbol /><IsIndependantCurrency>false</IsIndependantCurrency><ShowCurrencySymbol>true</ShowCurrencySymbol><DisplayDateInUSFormat>false</DisplayDateInUSFormat><hasSegments>false</hasSegments><hasScenarios>false</hasScenarios></Cell></Cells><OriginalInstanceReportColumns /><Unit>Monetary</Unit><ElementDataType>xbrli:monetaryItemType</ElementDataType><SimpleDataType>monetary</SimpleDataType><ElementDefenition>Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of merchandise, goods, commodities, or supplies relating to a source of usable power held for future sale or future use in manufacturing or production process.</ElementDefenition><ElementReferences>Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
 -Publisher SEC
 -Name Regulation S-X (SX)
 -Number 210
 -Section 02
 -Paragraph 6
 -Subparagraph a
 -Article 5

</ElementReferences><IsTotalLabel>true</IsTotalLabel><IsEPS>false</IsEPS><Label>Total</Label></Row></Rows><Footnotes /><NumberOfCols>2</NumberOfCols><NumberOfRows>4</NumberOfRows><ReportName>Major Classes of Inventories (Detail) (USD $)</ReportName><MonetaryRoundingLevel>Millions</MonetaryRoundingLevel><SharesRoundingLevel>UnKnown</SharesRoundingLevel><PerShareRoundingLevel>UnKnown</PerShareRoundingLevel><ExchangeRateRoundingLevel>UnKnown</ExchangeRateRoundingLevel><HasCustomUnits>false</HasCustomUnits><SharesShouldBeRounded>true</SharesShouldBeRounded></InstanceReport>
