Minerals

Mineral Groups

Rock forming minerals

• minerals that comprise the majority of the rocks on Earth
• 8 Elements make up these rock forming minerals
  • oxygen
  • silicon
  • aluminum
  • iron
  • calcium
  • sodium
  • potassium
  • magnesium

Silicates

• The most common mineral group, silicon and oxygen combine to form a framework called the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
  • Examples: quartz, feldspar; four oxygen atoms surrounding one silicon atom
• usually silicates contain one other type of atom
• the environment during crystallization and composition of the molten rock determines the mineral produced
• the structure and chemical composition of a silicate mineral indicates its formation conditions

Other

• carbonates
• oxides
• sulfides
• sulfates
• native elements
• halides