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Why are many minerals silicates?

Updated: 6/8/2024
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βˆ™ 14y ago

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Many minerals silicate due to the process that go through in their formation. It is estimated that 30% percent of all minerals are silicate and are made up of components from the crust of the earth.

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βˆ™ 9y ago
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βˆ™ 1mo ago

Many minerals are silicates because silicon and oxygen are the two most abundant elements in the Earth's crust. Silicates form when silicon and oxygen combine with other elements such as aluminum, potassium, or magnesium, resulting in a wide variety of mineral compositions and structures. This abundance of silicon and oxygen in the Earth's crust contributes to why silicate minerals are so common.

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βˆ™ 14y ago

Because the bulk of the crust is comprised of the elements silicon and oxygen, which can combine to form silicate minerals.

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Q: Why are many minerals silicates?
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What are minerals that contain oxygen and silicon?

They are classified as silicates, one of the more common being the mineral quartz which is composed only of the elements silicon and oxygen (SiO2). Other silicate minerals may include one or more other elements as well in their chemical formula.


Minerals that contain the elements silicon and oxygen are called?

Minerals that contain the elements silicon and oxygen are called silicates. Silicates are the largest and most diverse class of minerals, making up over 90% of the Earth's crust. Examples of common silicate minerals include quartz, feldspar, and mica.


What property is used to classify minerals into groups like silicates?

The property used to classify minerals into groups like silicates is their chemical composition. Silicates are minerals composed of silicon and oxygen, and they make up the largest group of minerals found in the Earth's crust. Minerals are categorized by their chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties.


What do all silicate minerals have in common?

All silicate minerals are composed of silicon and oxygen atoms arranged in a tetrahedral structure. These tetrahedra can be linked together in various formations to create different silicate mineral groups, such as sheet silicates, framework silicates, and chain silicates. Silicate minerals are the most abundant group of minerals in the Earth's crust.


What are the largest group of rock forming minerals?

Silicates are the largest group of rock-forming minerals. They are characterized by silicon and oxygen atoms combined with other elements such as aluminum, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Silicates make up about 90% of the Earth's crust.

Related questions

Does the smallest group of rock forming minerals consist of silicates?

No. Silicates are the largest group of rock forming minerals.


What minerals are on Neptune?

silicates


What are the two most common kinds of minerals?

Silicates and non-silicates.


What is another word for non silicates?

Minerals that are not silicates can be referred to as "non-silicate minerals" or "non-silicate geological compounds."


What are two big groups of minerals called?

Silicates and non-silicates are the two big groups of minerals. Silicates are the most abundant mineral group on Earth and contain silicon and oxygen, while non-silicates include minerals such as carbonates, sulfides, oxides, and native elements.


What are minerals containing silica called?

These are known as silicate minerals or silicates.


What are minerals that contain oxygen and silicon?

They are classified as silicates, one of the more common being the mineral quartz which is composed only of the elements silicon and oxygen (SiO2). Other silicate minerals may include one or more other elements as well in their chemical formula.


Minerals that contain the elements silicon and oxygen are called?

Minerals that contain the elements silicon and oxygen are called silicates. Silicates are the largest and most diverse class of minerals, making up over 90% of the Earth's crust. Examples of common silicate minerals include quartz, feldspar, and mica.


What property is used to classify minerals into groups like silicates?

The property used to classify minerals into groups like silicates is their chemical composition. Silicates are minerals composed of silicon and oxygen, and they make up the largest group of minerals found in the Earth's crust. Minerals are categorized by their chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties.


What is minerals containing silicon and oxygen and one or more elements called?

Minerals containing silicon, oxygen, and one or more elements are called silicates. Silicates are the largest and most important group of minerals, making up approximately 90% of Earth’s crust. Examples of silicate minerals include quartz, feldspar, and mica.


Minerals that contains the elements silicon and oxygen are called what?

The are forms of silicon dioxide or silicates.


What is silicate minerals?

The minerals that contain silica. This would include quartz, as well as the silicates. The siliceous ooze is the biogenic sediment, containing the remains of organisms whose skeleton is based on silicates.