Mineralogy of Silicates: Nesosilicates and Sorosilicates

Introduction to Silicates

Silicates are the principal constituents of the Earth’s crust and mantle. The majority of minerals that make up rocks are silicates, such as olivines, garnets, pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas, feldspars, clay minerals, and quartzes. Therefore, it is essential for mineralogists to understand silicate minerals.

Silicate minerals are abundant in igneous rocks because silicon and oxygen are the most prevalent elements in the Earth’s crust. Additionally, these minerals often contain other elements such as Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, and K.

There are more reasons to study silicates than just their abundance. Silicates comprise a significant part of the soil. They are widely used to produce modern construction materials like brick, cement, ceramic, and glass. Some silicates make useful thermal and electrical insulators, complex nano filters, and water treatment absorbers. Additionally, many gem-quality silicates are used in the jewelry industry.

Silicate minerals can be divided into six groups based on crystal chemistry. By learning the basic principles of silicate structures, we can understand what is happening inside these minerals just by looking at their chemical formulas.

Crystal Chemistry of Silicates

The crystal