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Mineral Groups

Mineral Groups . General Information. Over 4000 minerals have been found on Earth but we will be studying only the most common ones Minerals are classified into groups based on their chemical composition. Silicates. The most common group of minerals on Earth

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Mineral Groups

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  1. Mineral Groups

  2. General Information • Over 4000 minerals have been found on Earth but we will be studying only the most common ones • Minerals are classified into groups based on their chemical composition

  3. Silicates • The most common group of minerals on Earth • Forms when silicon and oxygen combine into a structure called the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (all silicates contain this) • Common mineral examples include quartz, olivine, hornblende, and micas **Note: this is the most common mineral group b/c most of Earth’s crust is made of silicon and oxygen

  4. Carbonates • The second most common mineral group • These minerals contain the elements carbon, oxygen, and one or more metallic elements • Examples include calcite and dolomite

  5. Oxides • These are minerals that contain oxygen and one or more other elements, which are usually metals • Examples include hematite and corundum **Note: corundum is aka sand paper, rubies, and sapphires

  6. Sulfates and Sulfides • Minerals that contain the element sulfur • Common examples include gypsum, galena, and pyrite

  7. Halides • Minerals that contain a halogen ion plus one or more other elements *Note: Halogens are elements from Group 7A of the periodic table including fluorine and chlorine • Common example includes Halite

  8. Native Elements • These are a group of minerals that exist in relatively pure form • Common examples include gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), sulfur (S), and carbon (C)

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