The document discusses two major mineral groups: silicates and carbonates. Silicates are the most abundant minerals in the earth's crust and are formed from the combination of silicon and oxygen atoms into tetrahedrons. Silicate minerals crystallize from cooling magma and their structure and properties depend on the temperature and pressure conditions of formation. Carbonates are the second most common mineral group and contain carbon, oxygen, and metallic elements like calcium in minerals such as calcite and dolomite.