Mineral Groups
| The Silicate mineral group is the most common group. Minerals within this group have the silica tetrahedron as the base of their structure. This tetrahedon is formed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a single silica atom. |  |
Structure Name |
Molecule | Silicate Structure | Mineral | Cleavage |
| Nesosilicates (Island Silicates) |
 |
Bonds with other cations such as: Mg+2, Fe+2, or Ca+2 |
Olivine | None! |
Sorosilicates |
 |
One corner oxygen is shared with other SiO4-4 tetrahedrons = linked tetrahedron |
Epidote | None to weak in 1 plane |
Cyclosilicates |
 |
Two oxygens are shared and form a ring-like structure |
Beryl | 1 plane |
Inosilicates |
 |
Two oxygens are shared and form a chain-like structure |
Pyroxene group |
2 planes @ 90° |
Inosilicates |
 |
Two chains linked together so that each tetrahedral group shares 3 of its oxygens = double chains |
Amphibole group |
2 planes @ 120° & 60° |
Phyllosilicates |
 |
Three of the oxygens from each tetrahedral group are shared to form sheets | Micas, chlorite, talc, etc | 1 plane |
Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates) |
 |
All the corner oxygens are shared with another SiO4 tetrahedron |
Quartz | None! |
Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates) |
|
If Al+3 replaces some of the SiO2, a charge imbalance forms & allows other ions to be incorporated |
Feldspars | 2 planes @ 90° |
Thus, the silicate tetrahedron can bond with other silicate tetrahedron, or various cations, to create numerous combinations (aka minerals). A mineral's properties are based upon how the tetrahedra combine.