Anahata, you said "In fact you could say they have 6 beats": this is the confusion that lead to my original question about the time signature. Since my last post I have found a website with the classification:
Simple triple ("Waltz time") 3/2 = 3 minims per bar 3/4 = 3 crochets per bar 3/8 = 3 quavers per bar
Of course I'm aware that just because it's on a web page it doesn't make it true:-)
Whilst I whole-heartedly agree with your comments on the differences between waltzes and mazurkas (I can't recall any minuets at the moment) They both display a definite 3 beats in a bar which is what, from my ignorance, I would expect to hear in a tune with a 3:2 hornpipe.
I shall now go off and learn the lessons that Brian has taught me and ignore my confusion over the time signature:-)