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Types of Minerals. Chapter 4.2. Mineral Groups. Silicates Minerals that contain oxygen and silicon Make up 96% of the minerals present on the Earth’s crust Basic building block is silica tetrahedron Geometric solid having four sides that are equilateral triangles
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Types of Minerals Chapter 4.2
Mineral Groups • Silicates • Minerals that contain oxygen and silicon • Make up 96% of the minerals present on the Earth’s crust • Basic building block is silica tetrahedron • Geometric solid having four sides that are equilateral triangles • Combines in different ways to form different minerals
Silicates have strong bonds • Bonds determine the mineral’s cleavage or fracture • Create complex 3 dimensional figures or sheets • mica
Carbonates • Minerals composed of one or more metallic elements and the carbonate ion CO32- • Primary minerals found in rocks like limestone and marble
Other groups • Oxides • Compounds of oxygen and a metal • Magnetite and Hematite • Sulfides • Combination of Sulfur and one or more elements • Pyrite • Native element • Made up of one element only • Silver, gold, copper, etc.
Mineral Economics • Ores • Mineral that contains a valuable substance that can be mined at a profit • Hematite contains iron • Bauxite contains aluminum
Gems • Valuable minerals that are prized for their rarity and beauty • Hard and scratch resistant • Rubies and emeralds are more valuable than diamonds because of their rareness
Trace elements can make one mineral more valuable than others • Amethyst is the gem form of quartz • Has the trace element of iron, giving it a purple hue