Silicate minerals
Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals with predominantly silicate anions. They are the largest and most important class of rock-forming minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of the Earth's crust.[1][2][3]
In mineralogy, silica, or silicon dioxide SiO2, which corresponds to x=2 in the general formula, is usually considered a silicate mineral—even though its silicate "anion" has no negative charge and it has no cations. Silica is found in nature as the mineral quartz, and its polymorphs.
On Earth, a wide variety of silicate minerals occur in an even wider range of combinations as a result of the processes that have been forming and re-working the crust for billions of years. These processes include partial melting, crystallization, fractionation, metamorphism, weathering, and diagenesis.
Living things also contribute to this geologic cycle. For example, a type of plankton known as diatoms construct their exoskeletons ("tests") from silica extracted from seawater. The tests of dead diatoms are a major constituent of deep ocean sediment, and of diatomaceous earth.
Contents
1 General structure
2 Main groups
3 Nesosilicates or orthosilicates
4 Sorosilicates
5 Cyclosilicates
6 Inosilicates
6.1 Single chain inosilicates
6.2 Double chain inosilicates
7 Phyllosilicates
8 Tectosilicates
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
General structure
A silicate mineral is generally an ionic solid whose anions consist predominantly of silicon and oxygen atoms.
In most minerals in the Earth's crust, each silicon atom is the center of an ideal tetrahedron, whose corners are four oxygen atoms covalently bound to it. Two adjacent tetrahedra may share a vertex, meaning that the oxygen atom is a bridge connecting the two silicon atoms. An unpaired vertex represents an ionized oxygen atom, covalently bound to a single silicon atom, that contributes one unit of negative charge to the anion.
Some silicon centers may be replaced by atoms of other elements, still bound to the four corner oxygen corners. If the substituted atom is not normally tetravalent, it usually contributes extra charge to the anion, which then requires extra cations. For example, in the mineral orthoclase [KAlSi
3O
8]
n, the anion is a tridimensional network of tetrahedra in which all oxygen corners are shared. If all tetrahedra had silicon centers, the anion would be just neutral silica [SiO
2]
n. Replacement of one every four silicon atoms by an aluminum atom results in the anion [AlSi
3O−
8]
n, whose charge is neutralized by the potassium cations K+
.
Main groups
In mineralogy, silicate minerals are classified into 7 major groups according to the structure of their silicate anion:[4][5]
Major group | structure | chemical formula | example |
---|---|---|---|
Nesosilicates | isolated silicon tetrahedra | [SiO4]4− | olivine. |
Sorosilicates | double tetrahedra | [Si2O7]6− | epidote, melilite group. |
Cyclosilicates | rings | [SinO3n]2n− | tourmaline group. |
Inosilicates | single chain | [SinO3n]2n− | pyroxene group. |
Inosilicates | double chain | [Si4nO11n]6n− | amphibole group. |
Phyllosilicates | sheets | [Si2nO5n]2n− | micas and clays. |
Tectosilicates | 3D framework | [AlxSiyO(2x+2y)]x− | quartz, feldspars, zeolites. |
Note that tectosilicates can only have additional cations if some of the silicon is replaced by an atom of lower valence such as aluminium. Al for Si substitution is common.
Nesosilicates or orthosilicates
Nesosilicates (from Greek νῆσος nēsos, island), or orthosilicates, have the orthosilicate ion, which constitute isolated (insular) [SiO4]4−tetrahedra that are connected only by interstitial cations. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.A –examples include:
- Phenakite group
Phenakite – Be2SiO4
Willemite – Zn2SiO4
Olivine group
Forsterite – Mg2SiO4
Fayalite – Fe2SiO4
Tephroite – Mn2SiO4
Garnet group
Pyrope – Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
Almandine – Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Spessartine – Mn3Al2(SiO4)3
Grossular – Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Andradite – Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3
Uvarovite – Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3
Hydrogrossular – Ca3Al2Si2O8(SiO4)3−m(OH)4m
- Zircon group
Zircon – ZrSiO4
Thorite – (Th,U)SiO4
Hafnon – (Hf,Zr)SiO4
- Al2SiO5 group
Andalusite – Al2SiO5
Kyanite – Al2SiO5
Sillimanite – Al2SiO5
Dumortierite – Al6.5–7BO3(SiO4)3(O,OH)3
Topaz – Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
Staurolite – Fe2Al9(SiO4)4(O,OH)2
Humite group – (Mg,Fe)7(SiO4)3(F,OH)2
Norbergite – Mg3(SiO4)(F,OH)2
Chondrodite – Mg5(SiO4)2(F,OH)2
Humite – Mg7(SiO4)3(F,OH)2
Clinohumite – Mg9(SiO4)4(F,OH)2
Datolite – CaBSiO4(OH)
Titanite – CaTiSiO5
Chloritoid – (Fe,Mg,Mn)2Al4Si2O10(OH)4
Mullite (aka Porcelainite) – Al6Si2O13
Sorosilicates
Sorosilicates (from Greek σωρός sōros, heap, mound) have isolated pyrosilicate anions Si
2O6−
7, consisting of double tetrahedra with a shared oxygen vertex—a silicon:oxygen ratio of 2:7. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.B. Examples include:
Hemimorphite (calamine) – Zn4(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O
Lawsonite – CaAl2(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O
Axinite – (Ca,Fe,Mn)3Al2(BO3)(Si4O12)(OH)
Ilvaite – CaFeII2FeIIIO(Si2O7)(OH)- Epidote group (has both (SiO4)4− and (Si2O7)6− groups)
Epidote – Ca2(Al,Fe)3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
Zoisite – Ca2Al3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
Tanzanite – Ca2Al3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
Clinozoisite – Ca2Al3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
Allanite – Ca(Ce,La,Y,Ca)Al2(FeII,FeIII)O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
Dollaseite-(Ce) – CaCeMg2AlSi3O11F(OH)
Vesuvianite (idocrase) – Ca10(Mg,Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4
Cyclosilicates
Cyclosilicates (from Greek κύκλος kuklos, circle), or ring silicates, have three or more tetrahedra linked in a ring. The general formula is (SixO3x)2x−, where one or more silicon atoms can be replaced by other 4-coordinated atom. The silicon:oxygen ratio is 1:3. Double rings have the formula (Si2xO6x)2x−. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.C. Possible ring sizes include:
6 units [Si6O18], beryl (red: Si, blue: O)
3 units [Si3O9], benitoite
4 units [Si4O12], papagoite
9 units [Si9O27], eudialyte
6 units, double ring [Si6O18], milarite
Some example minerals are:
- 3-member single ring
Benitoite – BaTi(Si3O9)
- 4-member single ring
Papagoite – CaCuAlSi
2O
6(OH)
3.
- 6-member single ring
Beryl – Be3Al2(Si6O18)
Bazzite – Be3Sc2(Si6O18)
Sugilite – KNa2(Fe,Mn,Al)2Li3Si12O30
Tourmaline – (Na,Ca)(Al,Li,Mg)3−(Al,Fe,Mn)6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4
Pezzottaite – Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18
Osumilite – (K,Na)(Fe,Mg)2(Al,Fe)3(Si,Al)12O30
Cordierite – (Mg, Fe)2Al4Si5O18
Sekaninaite – (Fe+2, Mg)2Al4Si5O18
- 9-member single ring
Eudialyte – Na
15Ca
6(Fe,Mn)
3Zr
3SiO(O,OH,H
2O)
3(Si
3O
9)
2(Si
9O
27)
2(OH,Cl)
2
- 6-member double ring
Milarite – K2Ca4Al2Be4(Si24O60)H2O
Note that the ring in axinite contains two B and four Si tetrahedra and is highly distorted compared to the other 6-member ring cyclosilicates.
Inosilicates
Inosilicates (from Greek ἴς is [genitive: ἰνός inos], fibre), or chain silicates, have interlocking chains of silicate tetrahedra with either SiO3, 1:3 ratio, for single chains or Si4O11, 4:11 ratio, for double chains. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.D – examples include:
Single chain inosilicates
Pyroxene group
- Enstatite – orthoferrosilite series
Enstatite – MgSiO3
Ferrosilite – FeSiO3
Pigeonite – Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)1.75Si2O6
- Diopside – hedenbergite series
Diopside – CaMgSi2O6
Hedenbergite – CaFeSi2O6
Augite – (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)2O6
- Sodium pyroxene series
Jadeite – NaAlSi2O6
Aegirine (or acmite) – NaFeIIISi2O6
Spodumene – LiAlSi2O6
- Enstatite – orthoferrosilite series
- Pyroxenoid group
Wollastonite – CaSiO3
Rhodonite – MnSiO3
Pectolite – NaCa2(Si3O8)(OH)
Double chain inosilicates
Amphibole group
Anthophyllite – (Mg,Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2
- Cummingtonite series
Cummingtonite – Fe2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2
Grunerite – Fe7Si8O22(OH)2
- Tremolite series
Tremolite – Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2
Actinolite – Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2
Hornblende – (Ca,Na)2–3(Mg,Fe,Al)5Si6(Al,Si)2O22(OH)2
- Sodium amphibole group
Glaucophane – Na2Mg3Al2Si8O22(OH)2
Riebeckite (asbestos) – Na2FeII3FeIII2Si8O22(OH)2
Arfvedsonite – Na3(Fe,Mg)4FeSi8O22(OH)2
Inosilicate, pyroxene family, with 2-periodic single chain (Si2O6), diopside
Inosilicate, clinoamphibole, with 2-periodic double chains (Si4O11), tremolite
Inosilicate, unbranched 3-periodic single chain of wollastonite
Inosilicate with 5-periodic single chain, rhodonite
Inosilicate with cyclic branched 8-periodic chain, pellyite
Phyllosilicates
Phyllosilicates (from Greek φύλλον phyllon, leaf), or sheet silicates, form parallel sheets of silicate tetrahedra with Si2O5 or a 2:5 ratio. The Nickel–Strunz classification is 09.E. All phyllosilicate minerals are hydrated, with either water or hydroxyl groups attached.
Examples include:
Serpentine subgroup
Antigorite – Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Chrysotile – Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Lizardite – Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Clay minerals group
Halloysite – Al2Si2O5(OH)4
Kaolinite – Al2Si2O5(OH)4
Illite – (K,H3O)(Al,Mg,Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10[(OH)2,(H2O)]
Montmorillonite – (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2·nH2O
Vermiculite – (MgFe,Al)3(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2·4H2O
Talc – Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Sepiolite – Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6H2O
Palygorskite (or attapulgite) – (Mg,Al)2Si4O10(OH)·4(H2O)
Pyrophyllite – Al2Si4O10(OH)2
Mica group
Biotite – K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3)O10(OH)2
Fuchsite – K(Al,Cr)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Muscovite – KAl2(AlSi3)O10(OH)2
Phlogopite – KMg3(AlSi3)O10(OH)2
Lepidolite – K(Li,Al)2–3(AlSi3)O10(OH)2
Margarite – CaAl2(Al2Si2)O10(OH)2
Glauconite – (K,Na)(Al,Mg,Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2
Chlorite group
- Chlorite – (Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6
- Chlorite – (Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6
Phyllosilicate, mica group, muscovite (red: Si, blue: O)
Phyllosilicate, single net of tetrahedra with 4-membered rings, apophyllite-(KF)-apophyllite-(KOH) series
Phyllosilicate, single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings, pyrosmalite-(Fe)-pyrosmalite-(Mn) series
Phyllosilicate, single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings, zeophyllite
Phyllosilicate, double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings, carletonite
Tectosilicates
Tectosilicates, or "framework silicates," have a three-dimensional framework of silicate tetrahedra with SiO2 or a 1:2 ratio. This group comprises nearly 75% of the crust of the Earth.[6] Tectosilicates, with the exception of the quartz group, are aluminosilicates. The Nickel–Strunz classifications are 09.F and 09.G, 04.DA (Quartz/ silica family). Examples include:
- Quartz group
Quartz – SiO2
Tridymite – SiO2
Cristobalite – SiO2
Coesite – SiO2
Stishovite – SiO2
Moganite – SiO2
Chalcedony – SiO2
Feldspar family
- Alkali feldspars (potassium feldspars)
Microcline – KAlSi3O8
Orthoclase – KAlSi3O8
Anorthoclase – (Na,K)AlSi3O8
Sanidine – KAlSi3O8
Plagioclase feldspars
Albite – NaAlSi3O8
Oligoclase – (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 4:1)
Andesine – (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 3:2)
Labradorite – (Ca,Na)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 2:3)
Bytownite – (Ca,Na)(Si,Al)4O8 (Na:Ca 1:4)
Anorthite – CaAl2Si2O8
- Alkali feldspars (potassium feldspars)
Feldspathoid family
Nosean – Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4)
Cancrinite – Na6Ca2(CO3,Al6Si6O24) · 2H2O
Leucite – KAlSi2O6
Nepheline – (Na,K)AlSiO4
Sodalite – Na8(AlSiO4)6Cl2
Hauyne – (Na,Ca)4–8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1–2
Lazurite – (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl)2
Petalite – LiAlSi4O10
Scapolite group
Marialite – Na4(AlSi3O8)3(Cl2,CO3,SO4)
Meionite – Ca4(Al2Si2O8)3(Cl2CO3,SO4)
Analcime – NaAlSi2O6·H2O
Zeolite family
Natrolite – Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O
Erionite – (Na2,K2,Ca)2Al4Si14O36·15H2O
Chabazite – CaAl2Si4O12·6H2O
Heulandite – CaAl2Si7O18·6H2O
Stilbite – NaCa2Al5Si13O36·17H2O
Scolecite – CaAl2Si3O10·3H2O
Mordenite – (Ca,Na2,K2)Al2Si10O24·7H2O
See also
Classification of non-silicate minerals – A list of IMA recognized minerals and groupings
Classification of silicate minerals – A list of IMA recognized minerals and groupings- Silicate mineral paint
References
^ "Mineral - Silicates". britannica.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2018..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Deer, W.A.; Howie, R.A.; Zussman, J. (1992). An introduction to the rock-forming minerals (2nd ed.). London: Longman. ISBN 0-582-30094-0.
^ Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis (1985). Manual of Mineralogy (20th ed.). Wiley. ISBN 0-47180580-7.
^ Deer, W.A.; Howie, R.A., & Zussman, J. (1992). An introduction to the rock forming minerals (2nd edition ed.). London: Longman
ISBN 0-582-30094-0
^ Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis ||1985). Manual of Mineralogy, Wiley, (20th edition ed.).
ISBN 0-471-80580-7
^ Deer, W.A.; Howie, R.A.; Wise, W.S.; Zussman, J. (2004). Rock-forming minerals. Volume 4B. Framework silicates: silica minerals. Feldspathoids and the zeolites (2nd ed.). London: Geological Society of London. p. 982 pp.
External links
- Mindat.org, Dana classification
- Webmineral : Dana's New Silicate Classification
The Wikibook Historical Geology has a page on the topic of: Silicate minerals |
Media related to Silicates at Wikimedia Commons