Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. (2 ...
s made up of silicate
In chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the properties and behavior of . It is a that covers the that make up matter to the composed of s, s and s: their composition, structure, properties, behavior and the changes they undergo during ...
groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust
Earth's crust is a thin shell on the outside of Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbour and support life. 29.2% of Earth's surface is land consisting of continents and islands. The ...
.
In mineralogy
Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical mineralogy, optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifact (archaeology), artifacts. Specific st ...
, silica
Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide
An oxide () is a chemical compound
A chemical compound is a chemical substance
A chemical substance is a form of matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any su ...
(silicon dioxide) is usually considered a silicate mineral. Silica is found in nature as the mineral quartz
Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). The atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen Tetrahedral molecular geometry, tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, ...
, and its polymorphs.
On Earth, a wide variety of silicate minerals occur in an even wider range of combinations as a result of the processes that have been forming and re-working the crust for billions of years. These processes include partial melting
Melting, or fusion, is a physical process that results in the phase transition
In chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific
Science () is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge
Knowledge is a familiari ...
, crystallization
Crystallization or crystallisation is the process by which a solid
Solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter
4 (four) is a number
A number is a mathematical object
A mathematical object is an abstract concept arising ...
, fractionation
Fractionation is a separation process
A separation process is a method that converts a mixture or solution of chemical substances into two or more distinct product mixtures. At least one of results of the separation is enriched in one or more of ...
, metamorphism
Metamorphism is the change of mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs nat ...
, weathering
Weathering is the deterioration of Rock (geology), rocks, soils and minerals as well as wood and artificial materials through contact with water, atmospheric gases, and biological organisms. Weathering occurs ''in situ'' (on site, with little o ...
, and diagenesis
Diagenesis () is the process that describes physical and chemical changes in sediments
Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering
Weathering is the deterioration of rocks
In geology ...
.
Living organisms also contribute to this geologic cycle. For example, a type of plankton
Plankton are the diverse collection of organism
In biology
Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their anatomy, physical structure, Biochemistry, chemical processes, Molecular biology ...
known as diatom
Diatoms (''diá-tom-os'' 'cut in half', from ''diá'', 'through' or 'apart', and the root of ''tém-n-ō'', 'I cut') are a major group of algae
Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of s. It is a grou ...
s construct their exoskeleton
An exoskeleton (from Greek έξω, ''éxō'' "outer" and σκελετός, ''skeletós'' "skeleton") is the external skeleton
A skeleton is a structural frame that supports an animal
Animals (also called Metazoa) are multicellular ...
s ("frustules") from silica extracted from seawater
Seawater, or salt water, is water
Water (chemical formula H2O) is an , transparent, tasteless, odorless, and , which is the main constituent of 's and the s of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ). It is vital for al ...
. The frustules of dead diatoms are a major constituent of deep ocean
The deep sea or deep layer is the lowest layer in the ocean
The ocean (also the sea
The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean
The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water which co ...
sediment
Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently sediment transport, transported by the action of wind, water, or ice or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. ...
, and of diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth (), diatomite (), or kieselgur/kieselguhr is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous rock, siliceous sedimentary rock that can be crumbled into a fine shades of white, white to off-white powder. It has a particle size ranging ...
.
General structure
A silicate mineral is generally anionic compound
In chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the properties and behavior of . It is a that covers the that make up matter to the composed of s, s and s: their composition, structure, properties, behavior and the changes they undergo during ...
whose anion
An ion () is an atom
An atom is the smallest unit of ordinary matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ...
s consist predominantly of silicon
Silicon is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a Tetravalence, tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor. It is a member ...
and oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element
Image:Simple Periodic Table Chart-blocks.svg, 400px, Periodic table, The periodic table of the chemical elements
In chemistry, an element is a pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same ...
atoms.
In most minerals in the Earth's crust, each silicon atom is the center of an ideal tetrahedron, whose corners are four oxygen atoms covalent
A covalent bond is a chemical bond
A chemical bond is a lasting attraction between atom
An atom is the smallest unit of ordinary matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and take ...
ly bound to it. Two adjacent tetrahedra may share a vertex, meaning that the oxygen atom is a bridge connecting the two silicon atoms. An unpaired vertex represents an ionized oxygen atom, covalently bound to a single silicon atom, that contributes one unit of negative charge to the anion.
Some silicon centers may be replaced by atoms of other elements, still bound to the four corner oxygen corners. If the substituted atom is not normally tetravalent, it usually contributes extra charge to the anion, which then requires extra cation
An ion () is an atom
An atom is the smallest unit of ordinary matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are u ...
s. For example, in the mineral orthoclase
Orthoclase, or orthoclase feldspar (endmember
An endmember (also end-member or end member) in mineralogy
Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical ...
, the anion is a tridimensional network of tetrahedra in which all oxygen corners are shared. If all tetrahedra had silicon centers, the anion would be just neutral silica . Replacement of one in every four silicon atoms by an aluminum
Aluminium (aluminum in American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the United States
The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the Uni ...
atom results in the anion , whose charge is neutralized by the potassium
Potassium is a chemical element
In chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the properties and behavior of . It is a that covers the that make up matter to the composed of s, s and s: their composition, structure, properties, b ...
cations .
Main groups
Inmineralogy
Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical mineralogy, optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifact (archaeology), artifacts. Specific st ...
, silicate minerals
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust.
In mineralogy, silica (silicon dioxide) is usually conside ...
are classified into seven major groups according to the structure of their silicate anion:Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis , , 1985). ''Manual of Mineralogy'', Wiley, (20th edition ed.).
Note that tectosilicates can only have additional cations if some of the silicon is replaced by an atom of lower valence such as aluminium. Al for Si substitution is common.
Nesosilicates or orthosilicates
Nesosilicates (from Greek 'island'), or orthosilicates, have the orthosilicate ion, which constitute isolated (insular) tetrahedra
In geometry
Geometry (from the grc, γεωμετρία; ' "earth", ' "measurement") is, with , one of the oldest branches of . It is concerned with properties of space that are related with distance, shape, size, and relative position ...
that are connected only by interstitial cation
An ion () is an atom
An atom is the smallest unit of ordinary matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are u ...
s. The Nickel–Strunz classification
Nickel–Strunz classification is a scheme for categorizing mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid Eart ...
is 09.A –examples include:
*Phenakite group
**Phenakite
Phenakite or phenacite is a fairly rare Silicate minerals, nesosilicate mineral consisting of beryllium Silicate minerals#Nesosilicates or orthosilicates, orthosilicate, beryllium, Be2silicon, Sioxygen, O4. Occasionally used as a gemstone, phenakit ...
–
**Willemite
Willemite is a zinc
Zinc is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a silvery-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first el ...
–
*Olivine
The mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. ...
group
**Forsterite
Forsterite (Mg2SiO4; commonly abbreviated as Fo; also known as white olivine) is the magnesium-rich Endmember, end-member of the olivine solid solution series. It is Isomorphism (crystallography), isomorphous with the iron-rich end-member, fayalit ...
–
**Fayalite
Fayalite (, commonly abbreviated to Fa) is the iron-rich endmember, end-member of the olivine solid solution, solid-solution series. In common with all minerals in the olivine, olivine group, fayalite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (spac ...
–
**Tephroite
Tephroite is the manganese
Manganese is a chemical element
In chemistry, an element is a pure Chemical substance, substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in their atomic nucleus, nuclei. Unlike c ...
–
*Garnet
Garnets () are a group of silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science c ...
group
**Pyrope
The mineral pyrope is a member of the garnet
Garnets () are a group of silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ...
–
**Almandine
Almandine (), also known as almandite, is a species of mineral belonging to the garnet
Garnets () are a group of silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''g ...
–
**Spessartine
Spessartine is a nesosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust.
In mineralogy, silica (sil ...
–
**Grossular
Grossular is a calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical a ...
–
**Andradite
Andradite is a species of the garnet group. It is a nesosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's ...
–
**Uvarovite
Uvarovite is a chromium-bearing garnet group species with the formula: calcium, Ca3chromium, Cr2(silicon, Sioxygen, O4)3. It was discovered in 1832 by Germain Henri Hess who named it after Count Sergei Semenovitch Uvarov (1765–1855), a Russian st ...
–
** Hydrogrossular –
*Zircon group
**Zircon
Zircon ( or ) is a mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in ...
–
**Thorite
Thorite, (Th,U)SiO4, is a rare nesosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concern ...
–
**Hafnon
Hafnon is a hafnium nesosilicate mineral, chemical formula or . In natural zircon part of the zirconium is replaced by the very similar hafnium and so natural zircon is never pure . A zircon with 100% hafnium substitution can be made synthetical ...
–
* group
**Andalusite
Andalusite is an aluminium Silicate minerals, nesosilicate mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO5. This mineral was called andalousite by Delamétehrie, who thought it came from Andalusia. It soon became clear that it was a locality error, and t ...
–
**Kyanite
Kyanite is a typically blue aluminosilicate
Aluminosilicate mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid ...
–
**Sillimanite
Sillimanite is an aluminosilicate
Aluminosilicate mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the ...
–
**Dumortierite
Dumortierite is a fibrous variably colored aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in American English, American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density ...
–
**Topaz
Topaz ( ) is a silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned wit ...
–
**Staurolite
Staurolite is a reddish brown to black, mostly opaque, nesosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth ...
–
*Humite
Humite is a mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.J ...
group –
** Norbergite –
**Chondrodite
Chondrodite is a nesosilicate mineral with formula . Although it is a fairly rare mineral, it is the most frequently encountered member of the humite group
Humite is a mineral found in the volcanically ejected masses of Vesuvius. It was first ...
–
**Humite
Humite is a mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.J ...
–
**Clinohumite
Clinohumite is an uncommon member of the Humite (mineral group), humite group, a magnesium silicate according to the chemical formula (magnesium, Mg, iron, Fe)9(silicon, Sioxygen, O4)4(fluorine, F,Ohydrogen, H)2. The formula can be thought of as ...
–
*Datolite
Datolite is a calcium boron hydroxide Silicate minerals, nesosilicate, calcium, Caboron, Bsilicon, Sioxygen, O4(Ohydrogen, H). It was first observed by Jens Esmark in 1806, and named by him from δατεῖσθαι, "to divide," and λίθος, "st ...
–
*Titanite
Titanite, or sphene (from the Greek#REDIRECT Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece
Greece ( el, Ελλάδα, , ), officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its populat ...
–
* Chloritoid –
*Mullite
Mullite or porcelainite is a rare silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth scienc ...
(aka Porcelainite) –
Sorosilicates
Sorosilicates (from Greek 'heap, mound') have isolated pyrosilicate anions , consisting of double tetrahedra with a shared oxygen vertex—a silicon:oxygen ratio of 2:7. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.B. Examples include:
*Hemimorphite
Hemimorphite is the chemical compound
A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entity, molecular entities) composed of atoms from more than one chemical element, element held together by ...
(calamine
Calamine, also known as calamine lotion, is a medication used to treat mild itchiness
Itch (also known as pruritus or automatic tickle) is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex
In biology
Biology is the natural science that stu ...
) –
*Lawsonite
Lawsonite is a hydrous calcium aluminium sorosilicate mineral with formula CaAl2Si2O7(OH)2·H2O. Lawsonite crystallizes in the orthorhombicIn crystallography, the orthorhombic crystal system is one of the 7 crystal systems. Orthorhombic Lattice (gr ...
–
* –
* –
*Epidote group (has both and groups}
**
Epidote
Epidote is a calcium
Calcium is a chemical element
In chemistry, an element is a pure Chemical substance, substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in their atomic nucleus, nuclei. Unlike chemical ...
–
**Zoisite
Zoisite, first known as saualpite, after its type locality, is a calcium
Calcium is a chemical element
In chemistry, an element is a pure Chemical substance, substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of prot ...
–
***Tanzanite
Tanzanite is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite (a calcium aluminium hydroxyl sorosilicate), caused by small amounts of vanadium
Vanadium is a chemical element
Image:Simple Periodic Table Chart-blocks.svg, 400px, Periodi ...
–
**Clinozoisite
Clinozoisite is a complex calcium aluminium sorosilicate mineral with formula: Ca2Al3(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH). It forms a continuous solid solution series with epidote by substitution of iron(III) in the aluminium (m3 site) and is also called ''aluminiu ...
–
**Allanite
Allanite (also called orthite) is a sorosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science c ...
–
** –
*
Vesuvianite
Vesuvianite, also known as idocrase, is a green, brown, yellow, or blue silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study o ...
() –
Cyclosilicates
Cyclosilicates (from Greek 'circle'), or ring silicates, have three or more tetrahedra linked in a ring. The general formula is (Si''x''O3''x'')2''x''−, where one or more silicon atoms can be replaced by other 4-coordinated atom(s). The silicon:oxygen ratio is 1:3. Double rings have the formula (Si2''x''O5''x'')2''x''− or a 2:5 ratio. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.C. Possible ring sizes include:
beryl
Beryl ( ) is a mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rock (geology), rocks of which i ...
(red: Si, blue: O)
File:Benitoid.2200.png, 3 units , benitoite
Benitoite () is a rare blue barium titanium silicate mineral, cyclosilicate, found in hydrothermal, hydrothermally altered serpentinite. It forms in low temperature, high pressure environments typical of subduction zones at Convergent boundary, con ...
File:Papagoite.2200.png, 4 units ,
File:Eudialyte.2200.png, 9 units , 
eudialyte
Eudialyte, whose name derives from the Greek language, Greek phrase Εὖ διάλυτος ''eu'' ''dialysis, dialytos'', meaning "well decomposable", is a somewhat rare, nine member ring cyclosilicate mineral, which forms in alkaline igneous rock ...
File:Milarite.png, 6 units, double ring ,
Benitoite
Benitoite () is a rare blue barium titanium silicate mineral, cyclosilicate, found in hydrothermal, hydrothermally altered serpentinite. It forms in low temperature, high pressure environments typical of subduction zones at Convergent boundary, con ...
–
* 4-member single ring
** – .
* 6-member single ring
**Beryl
Beryl ( ) is a mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rock (geology), rocks of which i ...
–
** Bazzite –
** –
**
Tourmaline
Tourmaline ( ) is a crystalline
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid
Solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being liquid, gas and plasma). The molecules in a solid are closely packed together ...
–
** Pezzottaite –
**Osumilite
Osumilite is a very rare potassium-sodium-iron-magnesium-aluminium silicate mineral. Osumilite is part of the milarite group (also known as the milarite-osumilite group) of cyclosilicates.
Characteristics
Osumilite chemical formula is .Don S. G ...
–
**Cordierite
Cordierite (mineralogy) or iolite (gemology) is a magnesium iron aluminium Silicate minerals, cyclosilicate. Iron is almost always present and a solid solution exists between Mg-rich cordierite and Fe-rich sekaninaite with a series formula: to ...
–
** Sekaninaite –
* 9-member single ring
** Eudialyte
Eudialyte, whose name derives from the Greek language, Greek phrase Εὖ διάλυτος ''eu'' ''dialysis, dialytos'', meaning "well decomposable", is a somewhat rare, nine member ring cyclosilicate mineral, which forms in alkaline igneous rock ...
–
* 6-member double ring
** –
Note that the ring in contains two B and four Si tetrahedra and is highly distorted compared to the other 6-member ring cyclosilicates.
Inosilicates
Inosilicates (from Greek enitive: 'fibre'), or chain silicates, have interlocking chains ofsilicate
In chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the properties and behavior of . It is a that covers the that make up matter to the composed of s, s and s: their composition, structure, properties, behavior and the changes they undergo during ...
tetrahedra
In geometry
Geometry (from the grc, γεωμετρία; ' "earth", ' "measurement") is, with , one of the oldest branches of . It is concerned with properties of space that are related with distance, shape, size, and relative position ...
with either , 1:3 ratio, for single chains or , 4:11 ratio, for double chains. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.D – examples include:
Single chain inosilicates
*Pyroxene
The pyroxenes (commonly abbreviated to ''Px'') are a group of important rock-forming Silicate minerals#Inosilicates, inosilicate minerals found in many Igneous rock, igneous and metamorphic rock, metamorphic rock (geology), rocks. Pyroxenes have t ...
group
**Enstatite – orthoferrosilite series
***Enstatite
Enstatite is a mineral; the magnesium endmember of the pyroxene
The pyroxenes (commonly abbreviated to ''Px'') are a group of important rock-forming Silicate minerals#Inosilicates, inosilicate minerals found in many Igneous rock, igneous and me ...
–
*** Ferrosilite –
**Pigeonite
Pigeonite is a mineral in the clinopyroxene subgroup of the pyroxene group. It has a general formula of . The calcium cation fraction can vary from 5% to 25%, with iron and magnesium making up the rest of the cations.
Pigeonite crystallizes in th ...
–
**Diopside – hedenbergite series
***Diopside
Diopside is a monoclinic pyroxene mineral with composition . It forms complete solid solution series with hedenbergite () and augite, and partial solid solutions with orthopyroxene and pigeonite. It forms variably colored, but typically dull gr ...
–
***Hedenbergite
Hedenbergite, CaFeSi2 O6, is the iron
Iron () is a chemical element with Symbol (chemistry), symbol Fe (from la, Wikt:ferrum, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 element, group 8 ...
–
***Augite
Augite is a common rock-forming pyroxene
The pyroxenes (commonly abbreviated to ''Px'') are a group of important rock-forming s found in many and . Pyroxenes have the general formula , where X represents (Ca), (Na), (Fe II) or (Mg) and m ...
–
**Sodium pyroxene series
***Jadeite
Jadeite is a pyroxene
The pyroxenes (commonly abbreviated to ''Px'') are a group of important rock-forming Silicate minerals#Inosilicates, inosilicate minerals found in many Igneous rock, igneous and metamorphic rock, metamorphic rock (geology ...
–
***Aegirine
Aegirine is a member of the clinopyroxene
The pyroxenes (commonly abbreviated to ''Px'') are a group of important rock-forming s found in many and . Pyroxenes have the general formula , where X represents (Ca), (Na), (Fe II) or (Mg) and m ...
(or acmite) –
**Spodumene
Spodumene is a pyroxene
The pyroxenes (commonly abbreviated to ''Px'') are a group of important rock-forming Silicate minerals#Inosilicates, inosilicate minerals found in many Igneous rock, igneous and metamorphic rock, metamorphic rock (geolog ...
–
**Pyroxferroite
Pyroxferroite (Fe2+,Ca)SiO3 is a single chain inosilicate. It is mostly composed of iron, silicon and oxygen, with smaller fractions of calcium and several other metals. Together with armalcolite and tranquillityite, it is one of the three minerals ...
-
*Pyroxenoid group
**Wollastonite
Wollastonite is a calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physica ...
–
**Rhodonite
Rhodonite is a manganese silicate minerals, inosilicate, (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3 and member of the pyroxenoid group of minerals, crystallizing in the triclinic system. It commonly occurs as cleavable to compact masses with a rose-red color (the name c ...
–
**Pectolite
Pectolite is a white to gray mineral, sodium, Nacalcium, Ca2silicon, Si3oxygen, O8(Ohydrogen, H), sodium calcium hydroxide inosilicate. It crystallizes in the triclinic system typically occurring in radiated or fibrous crystalline masses. It has a M ...
–
Double chain inosilicates
*Amphibole
Amphibole () is a group of inosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust.
In mineralogy, s ...
group
**Anthophyllite
Anthophyllite is an amphibole mineral: ☐Mg2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2 (☐ is for a vacancy, a point defect in the crystal structure), magnesium iron inosilicate hydroxide. Anthophyllite is polymorphic with cummingtonite. Some forms of anthophyllite ar ...
–
**Cummingtonite series
*** Cummingtonite –
***Grunerite
Grunerite is a mineral of the amphibole
Amphibole () is a group of Silicate minerals, inosilicate minerals, forming prism or needlelike crystals, composed of double chain tetrahedron, tetrahedra, linked at the vertices and generally containing ...
–
**Tremolite series
***Tremolite
Tremolite is a member of the amphibole
Amphibole () is a group of Silicate minerals, inosilicate minerals, forming prism or needlelike crystals, composed of double chain tetrahedron, tetrahedra, linked at the vertices and generally containin ...
–
***Actinolite
Actinolite is an amphibole
Amphibole () is a group of inosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of ...
–
**Hornblende
Hornblende is a complex inosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust.
In mineralogy, silica ...
–
**Sodium amphibole group
***Glaucophane
Glaucophane is the name of a mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rock (geology), rocks o ...
–
***Riebeckite
Riebeckite is a sodium
Sodium is a chemical element
Image:Simple Periodic Table Chart-blocks.svg, 400px, Periodic table, The periodic table of the chemical elements
In chemistry, an element is a pure substance consisting only of atoms th ...
(asbestos
Asbestos (pronounced: or ) is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fair ...
) –
***Arfvedsonite
Arfvedsonite is a sodium
Sodium is a chemical element
Image:Simple Periodic Table Chart-blocks.svg, 400px, Periodic table, The periodic table of the chemical elements
In chemistry, an element is a pure substance consisting only of atoms ...
–
diopside
Diopside is a monoclinic pyroxene mineral with composition . It forms complete solid solution series with hedenbergite () and augite, and partial solid solutions with orthopyroxene and pigeonite. It forms variably colored, but typically dull gr ...
File:Tremolite-chain.png, Inosilicate, clinoamphibole, with 2-periodic double chains , tremolite
Tremolite is a member of the amphibole
Amphibole () is a group of Silicate minerals, inosilicate minerals, forming prism or needlelike crystals, composed of double chain tetrahedron, tetrahedra, linked at the vertices and generally containin ...
File:Wollastonite-chain.png, Inosilicate, unbranched 3-periodic single chain of wollastonite
Wollastonite is a calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physica ...
File:Rhodonite-chain.png, Inosilicate with 5-periodic single chain, rhodonite
Rhodonite is a manganese silicate minerals, inosilicate, (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3 and member of the pyroxenoid group of minerals, crystallizing in the triclinic system. It commonly occurs as cleavable to compact masses with a rose-red color (the name c ...
File:Pellyite-chain.png, Inosilicate with cyclic branched 8-periodic chain,
Phyllosilicates
Phyllosilicates (from Greek 'leaf'), or sheet silicates, form parallel sheets of silicate tetrahedra with or a 2:5 ratio. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.E. All phyllosilicate minerals arehydrate
In chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific
Science () is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity or awareness, of someone or something, such as facts
A fact is an occurrence in th ...
d, with either water
Water (chemical formula H2O) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known li ...
or hydroxyl
A hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula -OH and composed of one oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element
Image:Simple Periodic Table Chart-blocks.svg, 400px, Periodic table, The periodic table of the ...
groups attached.
Examples include:
*Serpentine subgroup
The serpentine subgroup (part of the kaolinite
Kaolinite ( ) is a clay mineral
Clay minerals are , sometimes with variable amounts of , , s, s, and other s found on or near some s.
Clay minerals form in the presence of water and ...
** –
**
Chrysotile
Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos, accounting for approximately 95% of the asbestos in the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor (2007)29 C.F.R.&n ...
–
**Lizardite
Lizardite is a mineral from the serpentine
Serpentine may refer to:
Music
* Serpentine (album), ''Serpentine'' (album), a 2002 goth metal album by Flowing Tears
* Serpentine (song), "Serpentine" (song), a 2011 country song by Tiffany
* Serpent ...
–
*Clay minerals
Clay minerals are hydrous
In chemistry, a hydrate is a substance that contains water or its constituent elements. The chemical state of the water varies widely between different classes of hydrates, some of which were so labeled before their ch ...
group
**1:1 clay minerals (TO)
***Halloysite
Halloysite is an aluminosilicate clay mineral with the empirical formula Al2Si2O5(OH)4. Its main constituents are oxygen (55.78%), silicon (21.76%), aluminium (20.90%), and hydrogen (1.56%). Halloysite typically forms by hydrothermal alteration of ...
–
***Kaolinite
Kaolinite ( ) is a clay mineral
Clay minerals are , sometimes with variable amounts of , , s, s, and other s found on or near some s.
Clay minerals form in the presence of water and have been important to life, and many theories of in ...
–
**2:1 clay minerals (TOT)
***Pyrophyllite
Pyrophyllite is a phyllosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with t ...
–
***Talc
Talc, or talcum, is a clay mineral
Clay minerals are , sometimes with variable amounts of , , s, s, and other s found on or near some s.
Clay minerals form in the presence of water and have been important to life, and many theories of ...
–
***Illite
Illite is a group of closely related non-expanding clay
Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil
Surface-water- gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland.">Northern_Ireland.html" ;"title="glacial till, Northern Ireland">gla ...
–
***Montmorillonite
Montmorillonite is a very soft phyllosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science c ...
(smectite) –
***Chlorite
The chlorite ion
An ion () is an atom
An atom is the smallest unit of ordinary matter
In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects th ...
–
***Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a hydrous
In chemistry, a hydrate is a substance that contains water or its constituent elements. The chemical state of the water varies widely between different classes of hydrates, some of which were so labeled before their chemi ...
–
**Other clay minerals
***Sepiolite
Sepiolite, also known in English by the German name meerschaum ( , ; ; meaning "sea foam"), is a soft white clay mineral
Clay minerals are hydrous aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in American English, American and Canadian English) is a c ...
–
***Palygorskite
Palygorskite or attapulgite is a magnesium aluminium Silicate minerals, phyllosilicate with formula (Mg,aluminium, Al)2silicon, Si4oxygen, O10(Ohydrogen, H)·4(water, H2O) that occurs in a type of clay soil common to the Southeastern United State ...
(or attapulgite) – (Mg,Al)2Si4O10(OH)*4(H2O)
*Mica
Micas ( ) are a group of mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs natural ...
group
**Biotite
Biotite is a common group of Silicate minerals#Phyllosilicates, phyllosilicate minerals within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula . It is primarily a solid solution, solid-solution series between the iron-endmember annite, and ...
–
**Fuchsite
Fuchsite, also known as chrome mica, is a chromium (Cr) rich variety of the mineral muscovite, belonging to the mica group of phyllosilicate minerals, with the chemical formula .
Trivalency, Trivalent chromium replaces one of the aluminium (Al) ato ...
–
**Muscovite
Muscovite (also known as common mica, isinglass, or potash mica) is a hydrated phyllosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'' ...
–
**Phlogopite
Phlogopite is a yellow, greenish, or reddish-brown member of the mica
Micas ( ) are a group of mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined ...
–
**Lepidolite
Lepidolite is a lilac
''Syringa vulgaris'', the lilac or common lilac, is a species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of biological classification, classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversi ...
–
**Margarite:''This article refers about a member of the mica group, and should not be confused with "Margarita (disambiguation), margarita".''
Margarite is a calcium rich member of the mica group of the Silicate minerals, phyllosilicates with formula: calcium ...
–
**Glauconite
Glauconite is an iron
Iron () is a with Fe (from la, ) and 26. It is a that belongs to the and of the . It is, on , right in front of (32.1% and 30.1%, respectively), forming much of Earth's and . It is the fourth most common .
In ...
–
muscovite
Muscovite (also known as common mica, isinglass, or potash mica) is a hydrated phyllosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'' ...
(red: Si, blue: O)
File:Apophyllite.sheet.png, Phyllosilicate, single net of tetrahedra with 4-membered rings, apophyllite
The name apophyllite refers to a specific group of phyllosilicates
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's ...
-(KF)-apophyllite-(KOH) series
File:Pyrosmalite.sheet.png, Phyllosilicate, single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings, pyrosmalite-(Fe)-pyrosmalite-(Mn) series
File:Zeophyllite.sheet.png, Phyllosilicate, single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings, zeophyllite
File:Carletonite.sheet.png, Phyllosilicate, double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings,
Tectosilicates
Tectosilicates, or "framework silicates," have a three-dimensional framework of silicate tetrahedra
In geometry
Geometry (from the grc, γεωμετρία; ' "earth", ' "measurement") is, with , one of the oldest branches of . It is concerned with properties of space that are related with distance, shape, size, and relative position ...
with in a 1:2 ratio. This group comprises nearly 75% of the crust of the Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbour and support life. 29.2% of Earth's surface is land consisting of continents and islands. The remaining 70.8% is Water distribution on Earth, covered wi ...
. Tectosilicates, with the exception of the quartz group, are aluminosilicate
Aluminosilicate mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure for ...
s. The Nickel–Strunz classifications are 09.F and 09.G, 04.DA (Quartz/ silica family). Examples include:
*3D-Silicates, quartz family
**Quartz
Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). The atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen Tetrahedral molecular geometry, tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, ...
–
**Tridymite
Tridymite is a high-temperature polymorph of silica
Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide
An oxide () is a chemical compound
A chemical compound is a chemical substance
A chemical substance is a form of matter
In c ...
–
**Cristobalite
Cristobalite is a mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure ...
–
**Coesite
Coesite is a form ( polymorph) of silicon dioxide
Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide
of rutile. Ti(IV) centers are grey; oxygen centers are red. Notice that oxygen forms three bonds to titanium and titanium forms six bonds to ...
–
**Stishovite
Stishovite is an extremely hard, dense tetragonal
In crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of determining the arrangement of atoms in crystalline solids (see crystal structure). The word "crystallography" is derived f ...
–
**Moganite
Moganite is an oxide mineral
The oxide mineral class includes those minerals in which the oxide anion (O2−) is bonded to one or more metal alloys. The hydroxide-bearing minerals are typically included in the oxide class. The minerals with c ...
–
**Chalcedony
Chalcedony () is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite. These are both silica minerals, but they differ in that quartz has a trigonal crystal structure, while moganite is monoclinic. Chalced ...
–
*Tectosilicates, feldspar
Feldspars are a group of rock-forming aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in and ) is a with the Al and 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common , at approximately one third that of . It has a great affinity ...
group
**Alkali feldspars (potassium feldspars)
***Microcline
Microcline (KAlSi3O8) is an important igneous rock
Igneous rock (derived from the Latin word ''ignis'' meaning fire), or magmatic rock, is one of the three main The three types of rocks, rock types, the others being Sedimentary rock, sedimen ...
–
***Orthoclase
Orthoclase, or orthoclase feldspar (endmember
An endmember (also end-member or end member) in mineralogy
Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical ...
–
***Anorthoclase
The mineral anorthoclase ((Na,K)AlSi3O8) is a crystalline solid solution
A solid solution describes a family of materials which have a range of compositions (e.g. AxB1−x) and a single crystal structure. Many examples can be found in metallur ...
–
***Sanidine
Sanidine is the high temperature form of potassium
Potassium is a chemical element
upright=1.0, 500px, The chemical elements ordered by link=Periodic table
In chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the propert ...
–
**Plagioclase
Plagioclase is a series of tectosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical compositio ...
feldspars
***Albite
Albite is a plagioclase
Plagioclase is a series of tectosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well- ...
–
***Oligoclase
Oligoclase is a rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rock (geology), rocks ...
– (Na:Ca 4:1)
***Andesine
Andesine is a silicate mineral
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with th ...
– (Na:Ca 3:2)
***Labradorite
Labradorite ((Ca, Na)(Al, Si)4O8) is a calcium-enriched feldspar
Feldspars are a group of rock-forming aluminium tectosilicate minerals, containing sodium, calcium, potassium or barium. The most common members of the feldspar group are the ' ...
– (Na:Ca 2:3)
***Bytownite
Bytownite is a calcium rich member of the plagioclase solid solution series of feldspar minerals with composition between anorthite and labradorite. It is usually defined as having between 70 and 90%Anorthite, An (formula: (Ca0.7-0.9,Na0.3-0.1) l(A ...
– (Na:Ca 1:4)
***Anorthite –
*Tectosilicates, feldspathoid family
**Nosean –
**Cancrinite –
**Leucite –
**Nepheline –
**Sodalite –
**Hauyne –
***Lazurite –
*Tectosilicates, scapolite group
**Marialite –
**Meionite
Meionite is a tectosilicate belonging to the scapolite group with the formula Ca4Al6Si6O24CO3. Some samples may also contain a sulfate group. It was first discovered in 1801 on Mt Somma, Vesuvius, Italy. It was named by Rene Just Haüy after μει ...
–
*Tectosilicates, zeolite
Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate
Aluminosilicate mineral
In geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, ''gē'' ("earth") and -λoγία, ''-logia'', ("study of", "discourse")) is an Earth science concerned with the solid Ear ...
family
**Natrolite
Natrolite is a tectosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific ...
–
**Erionite
Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that belongs to a group of minerals called zeolites. It usually is found in volcanic ash
, Chile, stretching across Patagonia from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.
on April 17, 2010.
Volcanic ...
–
** –
**
Heulandite
Heulandite is the name of a series of Silicate minerals, tecto-silicate 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 ch ...
–
**Stilbite
Stilbite is the name of a series of tectosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust.
In minera ...
–
**Scolecite
Scolecite is a tectosilicate
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust.
In mineralogy, silica (silicon ...
–
**Mordenite
Mordenite is a zeolite mineral with the chemical formula, (calcium, Ca, sodium, Na2, potassium, K2)aluminum, Al2silicon, Si10oxygen, O24·7water, H2O. and it is one of the six most abundant zeolites and is used commercially.
It was first described ...
–
**Analcime
Analcime or analcite (from the Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece
Greece ( el, Ελλάδα, , ), officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approxima ...
–
See also
* * *References
External links
Mindat.org, Dana classification
Webmineral : Dana's New Silicate Classification
{{Authority control ja:ケイ酸塩鉱物 pl:Krzemiany