John Kevin D.

Villar
BS EM

August 5, 2016

Silicates
Introduction
The silicate mineral class is considered to be the most important of all the mineral classes.
About 25% of the known minerals and nearly 40% of the common ones are silicates. Nearly
90% of the igneous rock-forming minerals are silicates; which means that they make up over
90% of the Earth's crust (oxides are the other dominant mineral group).
Each assemblage of silicate minerals tells us something of the environment in which it was
formed. The soil, in which we grow our food, is made up largely of silicates. Bricks, stones,
concrete, and glass are either silicates or derived from silicates. The time in our computers
and clocks is kept by a silicate mineral.
The fundamental unit on which the structure of all silicates is based consists of four oxygen
ions surrounding a silicon ion. This is known as the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (SiO4). When
the silicon and oxygen atoms combine, there is a net -4 charge to the molecule. This allows
other positively-charged atoms to combine with the silica tetrahedra to form minerals. The
six most common positively-charged elements in the crust of the Earth that combine with the
silica tetrahedra are (in order of most abundant to least abundant): aluminum (Al), iron (Fe),
calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg). In some minerals, the silica
tetrahedron may join with other silica tetrahedra to form various silicate structures.

Nesosilicates

This group is the simplest of all the silicate

subclasses. They are characterized by
isolated silicate tetrahedra that are bound
to each other only by positively-charged
elements.

Minerals of the nesosilicate subclass have

a higher density, index of refraction, and
hardness than chemically similar silicates
in other subclasses. Consequentially,
there are more gemstones in the
nesosilicates than in any other silicate
subclass.

If the corner oxygens are not shared with

other SiO4-4 tetrahedrons, each tetrahedron will be isolated. Thus, this group is often
referred to as the island silicate group. The basic structural unit is then SiO4-4. In
 this group the oxygens are shared with octahedral groups that contain other cations
like Mg+2, Fe+2, or Ca+2. Olivine is a good example: (Mg,Fe)2SiO4.

Minerals:

Andalusite, Chondrodite, Datolite, Garnet, Kyanite, Olivine, Phenacite,

Sillimantite, Straurolite, Topaz, Zircon.

Sorosilicates
The sorosilicates are characterized by isolated double
silicate tetrahedra that share an oxygen, creating an
hourglass-like shape. This subclass contains the smallest
number of minerals of all the silicate subclasses. All of the
minerals in this subclass are rare except for epidote, which
is widespread in metamorphic environments.

If one of the corner oxygens is shared with another

tetrahedron, this gives rise to the sorosilicate group. It is
often referred to as the double island group because there
are two linked tetrahedrons isolated from all other
tetrahedrons. In this case, the basic structural unit is
Si2O7-6. A good example of a sorosilicate is the mineral
hemimorphite - Zn4Si2O7(OH).H2O. Some sorosilicates are
a combination of single and double islands, like in epidote -
Ca2(Fe+3,Al)Al2(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH).

Minerals:

Epidote, Hemimorphite, Prehnite

Cyclosilicates
The cyclosilicates form chains as in the inosilicates
except that the chains link back around on themselves
to form rings. The rings can be made from a minimum
of three tetrahedrons up to eight membered rings. The
symmetry of the rings is reflected in the symmetry of
the minerals.
There are several gemstones in this subclass which is
due to the general high hardness, luster, and
durability of the minerals.

If two of the oxygens are shared and the structure is

arranged in a ring, such as that shown here, we get
the basic structural unit of the cyclosilcates or ring
silicates. Shown here is a six membered ring forming the structural group Si6O18-
12. Three membered rings, Si3O9-6, four membered rings, Si4O12-8, and five
 membered rings Si5O15-10 are also possible. A good example of a cyclosilicate is the
mineral Beryl - Be3Al2Si6O18.

Minerals: Axinite, Beryl, Chrysocolla, Cordierite, Tourmaline

Inosilicates

The inosilicates are characterized by

single or double chains of linked silicate
tetrahedra.

Many similarities exist between the two

groups. The only readily distinguishing
feature between the minerals is that
minerals of the single chain inosilicates
have 90 cleavage, while the minerals of
the double chain inosilicates have 60
cleavage.

If two of the oxygens are shared in a way to make long single chains of linked SiO4
tetrahedra, we get the single chain silicates or inosilicates. In this case the basic
structural unit is Si2O6-4 or SiO3-2. This group is the basis for the pyroxene group
of minerals, like the orthopyroxenes (Mg,Fe)SiO3 or the clinopyroxenes
Ca(Mg,Fe)Si2O6.

If two chains are linked together so that each tetrahedral group shares 3 of its
oxygens, we can from double chains, with the basic structural group being Si4O11-6.
The amphibole group of minerals are double chain silicates, for example the tremolite
- ferroactinolite series - Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2

Minerals: Anthophyllite, Augite, Diopside, Enstatite, Glaucophane, Hedenbergite,

Hornblende, Hypersthene, Jadeite, Reibeckite, Spodumene, Tremolite

Phyllosilicates

The phyllosilicates are characterized by

sheets of linked silicate tetrahedra.

The term phyllon comes from the

Greek word meaning "leaf." This is
because all of the members of this class
of silicates have platy or flaky habit and
one prominent cleavage. The minerals
are generally soft, of relative low
specific gravity and may even have a
greasy feel. Cleaved samples can show
flexibility or even elasticity, if the
sheets are thin enough.
 If 3 of the oxygens from each tetrahedral group are shared such that an infinite sheet
of SiO4 tetrahedra are shared we get the basis for the phyllosilicates or sheet silicates.
In this case the basic structural group is Si2O5-2. The micas, clay minerals, chlorite,
talc, and serpentine minerals are all based on this structure. A good example is biotite
- K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3)O10(OH)2. Note that in this structure, Al is substituting for Si in
one of the tetrahedral groups.

Minerals: Muscovite

Tectosilicates

This subclass is also known as the framework

silicates because its structure is
characterized by a very strong and stable
three-dimensional framework. Nearly 75% of
the Earth's crust is made up of minerals of
the tectosilicate class. This is because the
aluminum ion can easily substitute for the
silicon ion creating a -5 charge in the crystal.
Since the charge must be balanced,
additional cations are needed, creating the
numerous minerals.

If all of the corner oxygens are shared with

another SiO4 tetrahedron, then a framework
structure develops. The basic structural group then becomes SiO2. The minerals
quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite all are based on this structure. If some of the Si+4
ions are replaced by Al+3 then this produces a charge imbalance and allows for other
ions to be found coordinated in different arrangements within the framework
structure. Thus, the feldspar and feldspathoid minerals are also based on the
tectosilicate framework.

Minerals:

Albite, Anorthite, Chabazite, Danburite, Heulandite, Leucite, Microcline,

Natrolite, Nepheline, Opal, Orthoclase, Quartz, Sodalite, Stillbite.