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Silicate minerals
 
 
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The silicate minerals make up the largest and most important class of rock-forming mineral
Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through Geology processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties....
s, comprising approximately 90 percent of the crust of the Earth. They are classified based on the structure of their silicate
Silicate

A silicate is a compound containing an anion in which one or more central silicon atoms are surrounded by electronegative ligands. This definition is broad enough to include species such as hexafluorosilicate , [SiF6]2-, but the silicate species that are encountered most often consist of silicon with oxygen as the ligand...
 group. Silicate minerals all contain silicon
Silicon

Silicon is the most common metalloid. It is a chemical element, which has the symbol Si and atomic number 14. The atomic mass is 28.0855....
 and oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
.

silicates, or orthosilicates, have isolated [SiO4]4- tetrahedra
Tetrahedron

A tetrahedron is a polyhedron composed of four triangle faces, three of which meet at each vertex . A regular tetrahedron is one in which the four triangles are regular, or "equilateral", and is one of the Platonic solids....
 that are connected only by interstitial cations. *Al2SiO5 group

silicates have isolated double tetrahedra groups with (Si2O7)6- or a ratio of 2:7.

osilicates, or ring silicates, have linked tetrahedra with (SixO3x)2x- or a ratio of 1:3.






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The silicate minerals make up the largest and most important class of rock-forming mineral
Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through Geology processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties....
s, comprising approximately 90 percent of the crust of the Earth. They are classified based on the structure of their silicate
Silicate

A silicate is a compound containing an anion in which one or more central silicon atoms are surrounded by electronegative ligands. This definition is broad enough to include species such as hexafluorosilicate , [SiF6]2-, but the silicate species that are encountered most often consist of silicon with oxygen as the ligand...
 group. Silicate minerals all contain silicon
Silicon

Silicon is the most common metalloid. It is a chemical element, which has the symbol Si and atomic number 14. The atomic mass is 28.0855....
 and oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
.

Nesosilicates or isosilicates

Nesosilicates, or orthosilicates, have isolated [SiO4]4- tetrahedra
Tetrahedron

A tetrahedron is a polyhedron composed of four triangle faces, three of which meet at each vertex . A regular tetrahedron is one in which the four triangles are regular, or "equilateral", and is one of the Platonic solids....
 that are connected only by interstitial cations.
  • Phenacite group
    • Phenacite - Be2SiO4
    • Willemite
      Willemite

      Willemite is a zinc silicate mineral and a minor ore of zinc. It is highly fluorescent under shortwave ultraviolet light. It occurs in all different colors in daylight, in fibrous masses, solid brown masses , and apple green gemmy masses....
       - Zn2SiO4
  • Olivine
    Olivine

    The mineral olivine is a magnesium iron Silicate minerals with the formula 2siliconoxygen4. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth, and has also been identified in meteorites and on the Moon, Mars, and comet Wild 2....
     group
    • Forsterite
      Forsterite

      Forsterite is the magnesium rich end-member of the olivine solid solution series. Forsterite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with cell parameters a 4.75 ?ngstr?m , b 10.20 ? and c 5.98 ? ....
       - Mg2SiO4
    • Fayalite
      Fayalite

      Fayalite is the iron rich end-member of the olivine solid-solution series. In common with all minerals in the olivine, fayalite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with cell parameters a 4.82 ?, b 10.48 ? and c ? 6.09....
       - Fe2SiO4
  • Garnet
    Garnet

    The garnet group includes a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. The name "garnet" comes from the Latin language granatus , possibly a reference to the Punica granatum , a plant with red seeds similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals....
     group
    • Pyrope
      Pyrope

      The mineral pyrope is a member of the garnet group. Pyrope is the only member of the garnet family to always display red colouration in natural samples, and it is from this characteristic that it gets its name: from the Greek for fire and eye....
       - Mg3Al23
    • Almandine
      Almandine

      Almandine, also known incorrectly as almandite, is a species of mineral belonging to the garnet Group. The name is a corruption of alabandicus, which is the name applied by Pliny the Elder to a stone found or worked at Alabanda, a town in Caria in Asia Minor....
       - Fe3Al23
    • Spessartine
      Spessartine

      Spessartine previously named spessartite, is a nesosilicate, manganese aluminium garnet, manganese3aluminum23....
       - Mn3Al23
    • Grossular
      Grossular

      Grossular or grossularite is a calcium-aluminium mineral species of the garnet group with the formula Ca3Al23, though the calcium may in part be replaced by ferrous iron and the aluminium by ferric iron....
       - Ca3Al23
    • Andradite
      Andradite

      Andradite is a species of the Garnet Group. It is a Silicate_minerals#Nesosilicates, with formula Ca3Fe2Si3O12....
       - Ca3Fe23
    • Uvarovite
      Uvarovite

      Uvarovite is a chromium bearing garnet group species with the formula: calcium3chromium23. It was discovered in 1832 by Germain Henri Hess who named it after Count Sergei Semenovitch Uvarov , a Russian statesman and amateur mineral collector....
       - Ca3Cr23
    • Hydrogrossular
      Hydrogrossular

      Hydrogrossular, is a calcium aluminium garnet series between the species Grossular and Hibschite Ca3Al23-x4x, with hydroxide partially replacing silica ....
       - Ca3Al2Si2O8(SiO4)1-m(OH)4m
  • Zircon group
    • Zircon
      Zircon

      Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of Silicate minerals. Its chemical name is zirconium silicate and its corresponding chemical formula is ZirconiumSiliconOxygen4....
       - ZrSiO4
    • Thorite
      Thorite

      Thorite, SiO4, is a rare Silicate minerals of thorium that crystallizes in the tetragonal system and is isomorphous with zircon. It is the most common mineral of thorium and is nearly always strongly Radioactivity....
       - (Th,U)2SiO4
Kyanite Crystals
*Al2SiO5 group
    • Andalusite
      Andalusite

      Andalusite is an aluminium Silicate minerals mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO5.The variety chiastolite commonly contains dark inclusions of carbon or clay which form a checker-board pattern when shown in cross-section....
       - Al2SiO5
    • Kyanite
      Kyanite

      Kyanite, whose name derives from the Greek word kyanos, meaning blue, is a typically blue silicate mineral, commonly found in aluminium-rich metamorphic pegmatites and/or sedimentary rock....
       - Al2SiO5
    • Sillimanite
      Sillimanite

      Sillimanite also called Bucholzite is an alumino-silicate mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO5. Sillimanite is named after the American chemist Benjamin Silliman ....
       - Al2SiO5
    • Dumortierite
      Dumortierite

      Dumortierite is a fibrous variably colored aluminium Boron-Silicate minerals mineral, Al6.5-7BO333....
       - Al6.5-7BO3(SiO4)3(O,OH)3
    • Topaz
      Topaz

      Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula aluminium2siliconoxygen42. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces, the basal pinacoid often being present....
       - Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
    • Staurolite
      Staurolite

      Staurolite is a red brown to black, mostly opaque, Silicate minerals mineral with a white streak. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, has a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 and a rather complex chemical formula: 2aluminum94oxygen204....
       - Fe2Al9(SiO4)4(O,OH)2
  • Humite
    Humite

    Humite is an orthorhombic mineral of a transparent vitreous brown to orange color. It is found in the volcanically ejected masses of Vesuvius. It is a Silicate minerals of iron and magnesium which also contains fluorine and hydroxide....
     group - (Mg,Fe)7(SiO4)3(F,OH)2
    • Norbergite - Mg3(SiO4)(F,OH)2
    • Chondrodite
      Chondrodite

      Chondrodite is a Silicate minerals with formula 522. Although it is itself a fairly rare mineral it is the most frequently encountered member of the humite group of minerals....
       - Mg5(SiO4)(F,OH)2
    • Humite
      Humite

      Humite is an orthorhombic mineral of a transparent vitreous brown to orange color. It is found in the volcanically ejected masses of Vesuvius. It is a Silicate minerals of iron and magnesium which also contains fluorine and hydroxide....
       - Mg7(SiO4)(F,OH)2
    • Clinohumite
      Clinohumite

      Clinohumite is an uncommon member of the humite group of minerals, a magnesium silicate according to the chemical formula 942....
       - Mg9(SiO4)(F,OH)2
  • Datolite
    Datolite

    Datolite is a calcium boron hydroxide Silicate minerals, calciumboronsiliconoxygen4. Datolite crystallizes in the monoclinic system forming prismatic crystals and nodular masses....
     - CaBSiO4(OH)
  • Titanite
    Titanite

    Titanite or sphene is a calcium titanium Silicate minerals mineral, calciumtitaniumsiliconoxygen5. Trace impurities of iron and aluminium are typically present....
     - CaTiSiO5
  • Chloritoid
    Chloritoid

    Chloritoid is a Silicate minerals mineral of Metamorphism origin. It is an iron magnesium manganese alumino-silicate hydroxide with formula: 2aluminum4silicon2oxygen104....
     - (Fe,Mg,Mn)2Al4Si2O10(OH)4


Sorosilicates

Sorosilicates have isolated double tetrahedra groups with (Si2O7)6- or a ratio of 2:7.
  • Hemimorphite
    Hemimorphite

    Hemimorphite, is a Silicate minerals mineral which has been mined from days of old from the upper parts of zinc and lead ores, chiefly associated with smithsonite....
     (calamine
    Calamine (mineral)

    Calamine is a historic name for an ore of zinc. The name calamine was derived from the Belgium town of Kelmis, whose French language name is "La Calamine", which is home to a zinc mine....
    ) - Zn4(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O
  • Lawsonite
    Lawsonite

    Lawsonite is a hydrous calcium aluminium Silicate minerals mineral with formula CaAl2Si2O72?H2O....
     - CaAl2(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O
  • Ilvaite
    Ilvaite

    Ilvaite is a Silicate minerals of iron and calcium with formula: CaFe2+2Fe3+Si2O7O. Both manganese and magnesium substitute in the structure....
     - CaFe2+2Fe3+O(Si2O7)(OH)
  • Epidote group (has both (SiO4)4- and (Si2O7)6- groups)
    • Epidote
      Epidote

      Epidote is a calcium aluminium iron Silicate minerals mineral, Ca2Al2O, crystallizing in the monoclinic system. Well-developed crystals are of frequent occurrence: they are commonly prismatic in habit, the direction of elongation being perpendicular to the single plane of symmetry....
       - Ca2(Al,Fe)3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
    • Zoisite
      Zoisite

      Zoisite is a calcium aluminium hydroxy Silicate minerals belonging to the epidote group of minerals. Its chemical formula is calcium2aluminum3O....
       - Ca2Al3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
    • Clinozoisite
      Clinozoisite

      Clinozoisite is a mineral, a complex sorosilicate of calcium and aluminium and is usually a grey green colour. Its formula is Ca2Al3SiO4Si2O7O....
       - Ca2Al3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
    • Tanzanite
      Tanzanite

      Tanzanite is the blue/purple variety of the mineral zoisite which was discovered in the Meralani Hills of Northern Tanzania in 1967, near the city of Arusha....
       - Ca2Al3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
    • Allanite
      Allanite

      Allanite is a Silicate minerals group of minerals within the broader epidote group that contain a significant amount of rare earth elements. It has the general formula CaAl2O....
       - Ca(Ce,La,Y,Ca)Al2(Fe2+,Fe3+)O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
  • Vesuvianite
    Vesuvianite

    Vesuvianite, also known as idocrase is a green, brown, yellow, or blue Silicate minerals. Vesuvianite occurs as Tetragonal crystal system crystals in skarn deposits and limestones that have been subjected to contact metamorphism....
     (idocrase
    Vesuvianite

    Vesuvianite, also known as idocrase is a green, brown, yellow, or blue Silicate minerals. Vesuvianite occurs as Tetragonal crystal system crystals in skarn deposits and limestones that have been subjected to contact metamorphism....
    ) - Ca10(Mg,Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4


Cyclosilicates

Cyclosilicates, or ring silicates, have linked tetrahedra with (SixO3x)2x- or a ratio of 1:3. These exists as 3-member (Si3O9)6-, 4-member (Si4O12)8- and 6-member (Si6O18)12- rings.
  • 3-member ring
    • Benitoite
      Benitoite

      Benitoite is a rare blue Silicate minerals, found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. Benitoite fluorescent under short wave UV light, appearing light blue in color....
       - BaTi(Si3O9)
  • 4-member ring
    • Axinite
      Axinite

      Axinite is a brown to violet-brown, or reddish-brown bladed group of minerals composed of calcium aluminium boron-silicon, 3Al2BO3Si4O12OH....
       - (Ca,Fe,Mn)3Al2(BO3)(Si4O12)(OH)
  • 6-member ring
    • Beryl
      Beryl

      The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium Silicate minerals#Cyclosilicates with the chemical formula Be3Al26. The hexagonal crystals of beryl may be very small or range to several meters in size....
      /Emerald
      Emerald

      Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Beryl has a Hardness of 7.5 - 8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness....
       - Be3Al2(Si6O18)
    • Cordierite
      Cordierite

      Cordierite or iolite is a magnesium iron aluminium Silicate minerals. Iron is almost always present and a solid solution exists between Mg-rich cordierite and Fe-rich sekaninaite with a series formula: 2aluminum3 to 2Al3....
       - (Mg,Fe)2Al3(Si5AlO18)
    • Tourmaline
      Tourmaline

      Tourmaline is a crystal silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is classed as a semi-precious stone and the gem comes in a wide variety of colors....
       - (Na,Ca)(Al,Li,Mg)3-(Al,Fe,Mn)6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4


Inosilicates

Inosilicates, or chain silicates, have interlocking chains of silicate tetrahedra with either SiO3, 1:3 ratio, for single chains or Si4O11, 4:11 ratio, for double chains.

Single chain inosilicates

  • Pyroxene
    Pyroxene

    The pyroxenes are a group of important rock-forming silicate minerals found in many igneous and metamorphic rock rock . They share a common structure comprised of single chains of silica tetrahedra and they crystallize in the monoclinic and orthorhombic systems....
     group
    • Enstatite - orthoferrosilite series
      • Enstatite
        Enstatite

        Enstatite is the magnesium endmember of the pyroxene silicate mineral series enstatite - ferrosilite . The magnesium rich members of the solid solution series are common rock-forming minerals found in igneous and metamorphic rock rocks....
         - MgSiO3
      • Ferrosilite - FeSiO3
    • Pigeonite
      Pigeonite

      Pigeonite is a mineral in the clinopyroxene group. It has a general formula of Silicon2Oxygen6 The calcium cation fraction can vary from 5% to 25%, with iron and magnesium making up the rest of the cations....
       - Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)1.75Si2O6
    • Diopside - hedenbergite series
      • Diopside
        Diopside

        Diopside is a monoclinic pyroxene mineral with composition MgCaSi2O6. It forms complete solid solution series with hedenbergite and augite, and partial solid solutions with orthopyroxene and pigeonite....
         - CaMgSi2O6
      • Hedenbergite
        Hedenbergite

        Hedenbergite, calciumironsilicon2oxygen6, is the iron rich end member of the pyroxene group having a monoclinic crystal system....
         - CaFeSi2O6
      • Augite
        Augite

        Augite is a Silicate_minerals#Single_chain_inosilicates: mineral described chemically as SiO3 or calcium magnesium iron silicate. The crystals are monoclinic and prismatic....
         - (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)2O6
    • Sodium pyroxene series
      • Jadeite
        Jadeite

        Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition sodiumaluminumsilicon2oxygen6. It is monoclinic. It has a Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0 depending on the composition....
         - NaAlSi2O6
      • Aegirine
        Aegirine

        Aegirine is an Silicate minerals member of the clinopyroxene group. Aegirine is the sodium endmenber of the aegirine-augite series. Aegirine has the chemical formula sodiumironsilicon2oxygen6 in which the iron is present as Fe3+....
         (Acmite) - NaFe3+Si2O6
    • Spodumene
      Spodumene

      Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium Silicate minerals - lithiumaluminum2 - and is a source of lithium. It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish or lilac kunzite , yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite, prismatic crystals, often of great size....
       - LiAlSi2O6
  • Pyroxenoid group
    • Wollastonite
      Wollastonite

      Wollastonite is a calcium Silicate minerals mineral that may contain small amounts of iron, magnesium, and manganese substituting for calcium. It is usually white....
       - CaSiO3
    • Rhodonite
      Rhodonite

      Rhodonite is a manganese silicate minerals, SiO3 and member of the pyroxene group of minerals, crystallizing in the triclinic system....
       - MnSiO3
    • Pectolite
      Pectolite

      Pectolite is a white to gray mineral, sodiumcalcium2silicon3oxygen8, sodium calcium Silicate minerals hydroxide....
       - NaCa2(Si3O8)(OH)


Double chain inosilicates

  • Amphibole
    Amphibole

    Amphibole defines an important group of generally dark-colored rock-forming Silicate minerals minerals, composed of double chain SiO4 tetrahedron, linked at the vertices and generally containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structures....
     group
    • Anthophyllite
      Anthophyllite

      Anthophyllite is an amphibole mineral: 7Si8O222, magnesium iron Silicate minerals hydroxide. Anthophyllite is polymorphism with cummingtonite....
       - (Mg,Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2
    • Cumingtonite series
      • Cummingtonite
        Cummingtonite

        Cummingtonite or magnesium iron silicate hydroxide is a metamorphic amphibole with the chemical composition 7Silicon8Oxygen222....
         - Fe2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2
      • Grunerite
        Grunerite

        Grunerite is a mineral of the amphibole group of minerals with formula Iron7Silicon8Oxygen222. It is the iron endmember of the grunerite-cummingtonite series....
         - Fe7Si8O22(OH)2
    • Tremolite series
      • Tremolite
        Tremolite

        Tremolite is a member of the amphibole group of silicate minerals with composition: calcium2magnesium5silicon8oxygen222....
         - Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2
      • Actinolite
        Actinolite

        Actinolite is an amphibole silicate minerals with the chemical formula ....
         - Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2
    • Hornblende
      Hornblende

      Hornblende is a complex silicate minerals series of minerals. Hornblende is not a recognized mineral in its own right, but the name is used as a general or field term, to refer to a dark amphibole....
       - (Ca,Na)2-3(Mg,Fe,Al)5Si6(Al,Si)2O22(OH)2
    • Sodium amphibole group
      • Glaucophane
        Glaucophane

        Glaucophane is a mineral belonging to the amphibole group, chemical formula sodium23aluminum2silicon8oxygen222....
         - Na2Mg3Al2Si8O22(OH)
      • Riebeckite
        Riebeckite

        Riebeckite is a sodium-rich member of the amphibole group of minerals, chemical formula sodium25silicon8oxygen222....
         (asbestos
        Asbestos

        Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word asbestos is derived from a Greek language adjective meaning inextinguishable....
        ) - Na2Fe2+3Fe3+2Si8O22(OH)2
      • Arfvedsonite
        Arfvedsonite

        Arfvedsonite is a sodium amphibole mineral with composition: Na34FeSi8O222: sodium, iron, magnesium, Silicate minerals, hydroxide....
         - Na3(Fe,Mg)4FeSi8O22(OH)2


Phyllosilicates

Phyllosilicates (from Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 f????? phyllon, leaf), or sheet silicates, form parallel sheets of silicate tetrahedra with Si2O5 or a 2:5 ratio.

Kaolinusgov
  • Serpentine
    Serpentine

    The serpentine group describes a group of common rock-forming hydroxy magnesium iron Silicate minerals#Phyllosilicates minerals; they may contain minor amounts of other elements including chromium, manganese, cobalt and nickel....
     group
    • Antigorite - Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
    • Chrysotile
      Chrysotile

      Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos, accounting for approximately 95% of the asbestos in place in the United States and a similar proportion in other countries....
       - Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
    • Lizardite - Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
  • Clay mineral group
    • Kaolinite
      Kaolinite

      Kaolinite is a clay mineral with the chemical composition Aluminium2Silicon2Oxygen54. It is a layered Silicate minerals, with one tetrahedron sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedron sheet of alumina octahedra....
       - Al2Si2O5(OH)4
    • Illite
      Illite

      Illite is a non-expanding, clay-sized, micaceous mineral. Illite is a Silicate minerals or layered alumino-silicate. Its structure is constituted by the repetition of Tetrahedron ? Octahedron ? Tetrahedron layer....
       - (K,H3O)(Al,Mg,Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10[(OH)2,(H2O)]
    • Smectite -
    • Montmorillonite
      Montmorillonite

      Montmorillonite is a very soft Silicate minerals mineral that typically forms in microscopic crystals, forming a Clay mineral. It is named after Montmorillon in France....
       - (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2·nH2O
    • Vermiculite
      Vermiculite

      Vermiculite is a natural mineral that expands with the application of heat. The expansion process is called exfoliation and it is routinely accomplished in purpose-designed commercial furnaces....
       - (MgFe,Al)3(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2·4H2O
    • Talc
      Talc

      Talc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula Hydrogen2Magnesium34 or Magnesium3Silicon4Oxygen102....
       - Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
    • Palygorskite
      Palygorskite

      Palygorskite or attapulgite is a magnesium aluminium Silicate minerals with formula 2silicon4oxygen10?4 which occurs in a type of clay soil common to the Southeastern United States....
       - (Mg,Al)2Si4O10(OH)·4(H2O)
    • Pyrophyllite
      Pyrophyllite

      Pyrophyllite is a Silicate minerals mineral species belonging to the clay family and composed of aluminium silicate hydroxide: AlSi2O5OH....
       - Al2Si4O10(OH)2
  • Mica
    Mica

    The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic with a tendency towards pseudo-hexagonal crystals and are similar in chemical composition....
     group
    • Biotite
      Biotite

      Biotite is a common Silicate minerals#Phyllosilicates mineral within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula K3AlSi3O102....
       - K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
    • Muscovite
      Muscovite

      Muscovite is a Silicate minerals mineral of aluminium and potassium with formula potassiumaluminum22, or 236....
       - KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
    • Phlogopite
      Phlogopite

      Phlogopite is a yellow, greenish, or reddish-brown member of the mica family of silicate minerals. It is also known as magnesium mica.Phlogopite is the magnesium endmember of the biotite solid solution series, with the chemical formula potassiummagnesium3aluminumsilicon3oxygen102, or 2<...
       - KMg3Si4O10(OH)2
    • Lepidolite
      Lepidolite

      Lepidolite It occurs in granite pegmatites, in some high-temperature quartz veins, greisens, and granites. Associated minerals include quartz, feldspar, spodumene, amblygonite, tourmaline, columbite, cassiterite, topaz, and beryl....
       - K(Li,Al)2-3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
    • Margarite
      Margarite

      Margarite is a calcium rich member of the mica group of the Silicate minerals with formula: calciumaluminum2oxygen102....
       - CaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
    • Glauconite
      Glauconite

      Glauconite is a Silicate minerals mineral.It can also be referred to as an iron silicate. It crystallizes with monoclinic geometry. The name is derived from the Greek language glaucos meaning 'gleaming' or 'silvery', to describe the appearance of the blue-green color, presumably relating to the sheen and blue-green color of the sea's...
       - (K,Na)(Al,Mg,Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2
  • Chlorite group
    Chlorite group

    The chlorites are a group of Silicate minerals minerals. Chlorites can be described by the following four Solid solution based on their chemistry via substitution of the following four elements in the silicate lattice; Mg, Fe, Ni, and Mn....
    • Chlorite
      Chlorite

      The chlorite ion is ClO2-. A chlorite is a compound that contains this group,with chlorine in oxidation state +3....
       - (Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2•(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6


Tectosilicates

Tectosilicates, or "framework silicates", have a three-dimensional framework of silicate tetrahedra with SiO2 or a 1:2 ratio. This group comprises nearly 75% of the crust
Crust (geology)

In geology, a crust is the outermost solid shell of a planet or moon, which is chemically distinct from the underlying mantle . Crusts of Earth , our Moon, Mercury , Venus, and Mars have been generated largely by igneous processes, and these crusts are richer in incompatible elements than their respective mantle s....
 of the Earth
Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Earth is the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in diameter, mass and density. It is also referred to as the World and Wiktionary:Terra.Note that by International Astronomical Union convention, the term "Terra" is used for naming extensive land masses, rather...
. Tectosilicates, with the exception of the quartz group, are aluminosilicate
Aluminosilicate

Aluminosilicate minerals are minerals composed of aluminium, silicon, and oxygen. They are a major component of kaolin and other clay minerals....
s.

Quartz Crystal
Lunar Ferroan Anorthosite 60025
  • Quartz group
    • Quartz
      Quartz

      Quartz is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust . It is made up of a Crystal structure of silica tetrahedra. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and a density of 2.65 g/cm?....
       - SiO2
    • Tridymite
      Tridymite

      Tridymite is a high-temperature polymorphism of quartz and usually occurs as minute tabular white or colorless pseudo-hexagonal triclinic crystals, or scales, in cavities in acidic volcanic rocks....
       - SiO2
    • Cristobalite
      Cristobalite

      The mineral cristobalite is a high-temperature polymorphism of quartz, meaning that it is composed of the same chemistry, Silicon dioxide, but has a different structure....
       - SiO2
  • Feldspar
    Feldspar

    Feldspars are a group of rock-forming tectosilicate minerals which make up as much as 60% of the Earth's Crust .Feldspars crystallize from magma in both intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks, as veins, and are also present in many types of metamorphic rock....
     group
    • Alkali-feldspars
      • Potassium-feldspars
        • Microcline
          Microcline

          Microcline is an important igneous rocks-forming Silicate minerals mineral. It is a potassium-rich alkali feldspar. Microcline typically contains minor amounts of sodium....
           - KAlSi3O8
        • Orthoclase
          Orthoclase

          Orthoclase is an important Silicate minerals mineral which forms igneous rocks. The name is from the Greek language for "straight fracture," because its two cleavage planes are at right angles to each other....
           - KAlSi3O8
        • Sanidine
          Sanidine

          Sanidine is the high temperature form of potassium feldspar 4O8. Sanidine most typically occurs in felsic volcanic rocks such as obsidian, rhyolite and trachyte....
           - KAlSi3O8
      • Anorthoclase
        Anorthoclase

        The mineral anorthoclase is a crystalline solid solution in the alkali feldspar series, in which the sodium-aluminium silicate member exists in larger proportion....
         - (Na,K)AlSi3O8
      • Albite
        Albite

        Albite is a plagioclase feldspar mineral. It is the sodium Endmember of the plagioclase solid solution series. As such it represents a plagioclase with less than 10% anorthite content....
         - NaAlSi3O8
    • Plagioclase
      Plagioclase

      Plagioclase is a very important series of Silicate minerals minerals within the feldspar family. Rather than referring to a particular mineral with a specific chemical composition, plagioclase is a solid solution series, more properly known as the plagioclase feldspar series ....
       feldspars
      • Albite
        Albite

        Albite is a plagioclase feldspar mineral. It is the sodium Endmember of the plagioclase solid solution series. As such it represents a plagioclase with less than 10% anorthite content....
         - NaAlSi3O8
      • Oligoclase
        Oligoclase

        Oligoclase is a rock-forming mineral belonging to the plagioclase feldspars. In chemical composition and in its crystallographic and physical characters it is intermediate between albite and anorthite ....
         - (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 4:1)
      • Andesine
        Andesine

        Andesine is a feldspar mineral, a part of the plagioclase series.File:01722 Andesine.jpgIt is usually defined as having "%An" between 30 and 50....
         - (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 3:2)
      • Labradorite
        Labradorite

        Labradorite , a feldspar mineral, is an intermediate to calcic member of the plagioclase series. It is usually defined as having "%An" between 50 and 70....
         - (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 2:3)
      • Bytownite
        Bytownite

        Bytownite is a calcium rich member of the plagioclase solid solution series of feldspar minerals. It is usually defined as having "%Anorthite" between 70 and 90....
         - (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 1:4)
      • Anorthite
        Anorthite

        Anorthite is a compositional variety of plagioclase feldspar. Plagioclase is an abundant mineral in the Earth's Crust . The formula of pure anorthite is calciumAluminium2Silica2Oxygen8....
         - CaAl2Si2O8
  • Feldspathoid
    Feldspathoid

    The feldspathoids are a group of Silicate minerals minerals which resemble feldspars but have a different structure and much lower silica content....
     group
    • Nosean
      Nosean

      Nosean, also known as Noselite, is a mineral of the feldspathoid group with formula: potassium8aluminum6silicon6oxygen24....
       - Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4)
    • Cancrinite
      Cancrinite

      Cancrinite is a complex carbonate and silicate of sodium, calcium and aluminium with the formula sodium6calcium2[Found originally in 1839 in the Ural Mountains, it is named after Georg von Cancrin, a Russian minister of finance....
       - Na6Ca2(CO3,Al6Si6O24).2H2O
    • Leucite
      Leucite

      Leucite is a rock -forming mineral composed of potassium and aluminium Silicate minerals K[AlSi2O6]. Crystals have the form of cubic icositetrahedra but, as first observed by Sir David Brewster in 1821, they are not optically isotropic, and are therefore pseudo-cubic....
       - KAlSi2O6
    • Nepheline
      Nepheline

      Nepheline, also called nephelite , is a feldspathoid: a silica-undersaturated aluminosilicate, Sodium3PotassiumAluminium4silicon4Oxygen16, that occurs in intrusive and volcanic rocks with low silica, and in their associated pegmatites....
       - (Na,K)AlSiO4
    • Sodalite
      Sodalite

      File:Sodalite peg.jpgSodalite is a rich royal blue mineral widely enjoyed as an ornamental stone. Although massive sodalite samples are opaque, crystals are usually transparent to translucent....
       - Na8(AlSiO4)6Cl2
      • Hauyne
        Hauyne

        Hauyne, ha?yne or hauynite is a Silicate minerals mineral with sulfate and chloride with formula: 4-8Al6Si6241-2....
         - (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2
    • Lazurite
      Lazurite

      Lazurite is a Silicate minerals mineral with sulfate, sulfur and chloride with formula: 862. It is a feldspathoid and a member of the sodalite group....
       - (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl)2
  • Petalite
    Petalite

    Petalite, also known as castorite, is a lithium aluminium Silicate minerals mineral lithiumaluminumsilicon4oxygen10, crystallizing in the monoclinic system....
     - LiAlSi4O10
  • Scapolite
    Scapolite

    Scapolite , is a group of rock-forming silicate minerals composed of aluminium, calcium and sodium silicate with chlorine, carbonate and sulfate....
     group
    • Marialite - Na4(AlSi3O8)3(Cl2,CO3,SO4)
    • Meionite
      Meionite

      Meionite is a Silicate minerals belonging to the scapolite group with the formula Ca4Al6Si6O24CO3....
       - Ca4(Al2Si2O8)3(Cl2CO3,SO4)
  • Analcime - NaAlSi2O6•H2O
  • Zeolite
    Zeolite

    Zeolites are Microporous material, aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial absorbents. The term zeolite was originally coined in 1756 by Sweden mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, who observed that upon rapidly heating the material stilbite, it produced large amounts of steam from water that had been absorbed by the material....
     group
    • Natrolite
      Natrolite

      Natrolite is a Silicate minerals mineral species belonging to the zeolite group. It is a hydrated sodium and aluminium silicate with the formula ....
       - Na2Al2Si3O10•2H2O
    • Chabazite
      Chabazite

      Chabazite is a Silicate minerals mineral of the zeolite group with formula: Al2Si4O12?6H2O. Recognized varieties include Chabazite-Ca, Chabazite-K, Chabazite-Na, and Chabazite-Sr depending on the prominence of the indicated cation....
       - CaAl2Si4O12•6H2O
    • Heulandite
      Heulandite

      Heulandite is the name of a series of Silicate minerals minerals of the zeolite group. Prior to 1997, heulandite was recognized as a mineral species, but a reclassification in 1997 by the International Mineralogical Association changed it to a series name, with the mineral species being named heulandite-Ca, heulandite-Na, heulandite-K, and...
       - CaAl2Si7O18•6H2O
    • Stilbite
      Stilbite

      Stilbite is a Silicate minerals mineral of the zeolite group consisting of hydrated calcium aluminium silicate, sodiumcalcium2aluminum5silicon13oxygen36?14water....
       - NaCa2Al5Si13O36•17H2O


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