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The most abundant class of nonsilicates is the?
Carbonates
What are the Three common crystal structures found in nonsilicates?
Cubes ,Hexagonal (six-sided) prisms and irregular shape
Which are more common in Earth's crust and mantle- silicates or nonsilicates?
Silicates are more common in Earth's crust and mantle compared to nonsilicates. They make up about 90% of the Earth's crust and include a wide variety of minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and mica. Nonsilicate minerals, while important, are less abundant and include categories like carbonates, oxides, and sulfates. Overall, the predominance of silicate minerals is a key characteristic of Earth's geology.
What 2 groups are minerals divided into based on their chemical compositon?
There are more than 2 groups of minerals. The following groupings exist based on their chemical composition:SilicatesOxidesSulfatesSulfidesCarbonatesNative elementsHalides
Why is pearl not considered as a mineral?
A pearl is created by the oyster, a perfectly natural process and has been so since long before pearls were cultured. The oyster is trying to encapsulate an irritant, either a parasitic intruder (in the case of natural pearls, or a mother-of-pearl sphere inserted into the oyster's gonad (in the case of cultured pearls). The oyster 'cultures' the pearl by surrounding the irritant with CaCO3- heavy seawater until the calcium carbonate (limestone, chalk and seashell) condenses on it. If you have a wealthy Chemistry department, you can tease apart the regularly formed crystalline structure of the layers of calcium carbonate, or, to a jeweller, 'nacre'. The heart of a saltwater cultured pearl is a mother-of-pearl bead, but the deposit is completely regular layered scales of calcium carbonate. Therefore, yes, a pearl is most definitely a mineral, and also a semi-precious stone. ____________________________________________________________________ A pearl might have a mineral at it's heart, but the outside of a pearl is a hardened substance called nacre that the mollusk secretes around a parasite that invades the mantle tissue. Pearl is made of calcium carbonate with organic material (nacre) and water. A pearl is not mineral. The five characteristics a mineral must have is that it must be solid, it has to have a chemical composition, it has to be inorganic, and it has to be naturally made, also it has to have a definite crystalline structure. The pearl contains chemicals within it so it has a chemical composition. It is inorganic of course (it isn't made of any remains or organic substances). It is not naturally made, however, making it not a mineral. Another reason it isn't a mineral is because of its shape. Minerals must have a definite crystalline structure, but a pearl is round, marking off the structure it must have to qualify to be a mineral. It also is quite obviously solid.
