Download Mineral Groups

Mineral Groups
 Nearly 4000 minerals
have been named
 However, no more than
a few dozen are
considered “abundant”
 These few minerals also
make up most of the
Earth’s crust and are
classified as rockforming minerals.
 Only 8 elements make
up the bulk of these
minerals
Silicates
 Most common mineral group
 Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
 Elements that join silicate structures: Fe, Mg, K, Na, Ca
 Silicate Groups
 Feldspars
 Micas
 Olivine, Pryoxene (Augite) group, Amphibole group,
Quartz
 Quartz is the only mineral made of silicon and oxygen
Important Non-Silicate
Groups
 Only make up 8% of Earth’s crust
 Carbonates: Calcite, Dolomite
 Halides: Halite, Fluorite
 Oxides: Hematite, Magnetite, Corundum
 Sulfides: Galena, Sphalerite, Pyrite, Cinnabar
 Sulfates: Gypsum
 Native Elements: Gold, Copper, Diamond, Sulfur,
Graphite, Silver