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 composition provide clues about formation conditions. Carbonates are the second most common mineral group and contain carbon, oxygen, and metallic elements like calcium and magnesium. They are found in rocks like limestone and marble.

1. Mineral Groups ‐ Silicates and
Carbonates
Earth Science – 2nd Semester

2. • Minerals can be
classified into groups
based on their
composi;on.

3. Silicates
• The two most abundant
minerals in earth’s
con6nental crust are
silicon and oxygen.
• These two elements
combine to form a new
structure called the
silicon –oxygen
tetrahedron.

4. • The tetrahedron
consists of one silicon
atom and four oxygen
atoms.
• It provides the
framework for every
silicate mineral,

5. Ex. Quartz.

6. • The internal structure
of the atoms will affect
the proper6es of the
atom.
• Example: Olivine – very
hard mineral, made
from millions of
tetrahedron bonded
together.

7. • Mica – the tetrahedron join together to form
sheets.

8. • Quartz – Formed by
three‐dimensional
networks of
tetrahedron

9. • Silicate minerals crystallize from magma as it cools.
• The type of mineral that forms is a result of the
pressure and temperature of the environment of
forma;on.

10. • Example: Olivine will crystallize at temperatures of
about 1200 °C, under great pressure below the
surface.
• Quartz will crystallize at 700 °C close to the surface.

11. • Silicate minerals such as clay minerals can form at
the surface when exposed to the elements and
broken down, a process known as weathering.

12. • Some silicate minerals
only form from the
pressure caused by
tectonic plates grinding
together to build
mountains.

13. • Geologists oSen use
silicate minerals as
evidence to tell them
under what condi;ons
the mineral formed
under.
• This in turn can help
geologists to determine
how the planet looked
millions of years ago.

14. Carbonates
• Second most common
mineral group.
• These are minerals that
contain the elements
carbon, oxygen, and
one or more metallic
elements.

15. • Ex. calcite
• Dolomite – magnesium
and calcium

16. • These minerals are
found in the rocks
limestone and marble,
which are used heavily
in construc;on and
building.