Main PageE. SILICATE MINERALS
Because Si and O are the most abundant elements in the crust and the mantle, the most abundant minerals are silicates. The basic building block is the silica tetrahedron - four O ions grouped around one Si ion
33 These tetrahedra can exist independently in some silicate minerals; in other silicate minerals, the tetrahedra themselves may be linked (polymerized) in a variety of configurations. 34|
olivine (peridot) garnet beryl emerald pyroxene amphibole asbestos muscovite mica biotite mica |
talc clay serpentine orthoclase feldspar plagioclase feldspar quartz - SiO2 crystal milky smoky |
rose amethyst citrine chert agate diatomaceous earth opal |
The composition of the continental crust is dominated by silicate minerals.
|
MINERAL |
WEIGHT % |
|
Plagioclase Orthoclase Quartz Pyroxene Amphibole Mica Clay Olivine All Others |
39 12 12 11 5 5 5 3 8 |
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