Geology 2311: Mineralogy
Fall, 2007

 
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Silicate Minerals
1. Nesosilicates: independent tetrahedra (SiO4)
Olivine (Forsterite-Fayalite) (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Garnet - Almandine Fe3Al2Si3O12
Garnet - Grossularite Ca3Al2Si3O12
Kyanite, Andalusite, Sillimanite Al2SiO5
Titanite (Sphene) CaTiSiO5
Zircon ZrSiO4
2. Sorosilicate: double-tetrahedral groups (Si2O7)
Epidote Ca,Fe+3, Al silicate with (OH)
3.Cyclosilicates: rings of linked tetrahedra (Si6O18)
Beryl Be3Al2Si6O18
Tourmaline Na,Mg,Fe,Al etc borosilicate with (BO3), (OH)
Cordierite (Fe,Mg)2Al4Si5O18.nH2O
4. Inosilicates: chains of linked tetrahedra
(a) Pyroxenes - single chains (SiO3)
Diopside CaMgSi2O6
Augite (Ca,Mg,Fe)2Si2O6
Orthopyroxene (enstatite, hypersthene) (Mg,Fe) SiO3
(b) Amphiboles - double chains (Si4O11) with (OH)
Tremolite, actinolite Ca2(Mg,Fe)5(Si8O22) (OH)2
Hornblende NaCa2(Mg,Fe)5(AlSi7O22) (OH)2
5. Phyllosilicates: sheets of linked tetrahedra (Si2O5) with (OH)
Kaolinite Al4(Si4O10) (OH)8
Serpentine Mg6(Si4O10) (OH)8
Talc Mg3(Si4O10) (OH)2
Chlorite Mg5Al(AlSi3O10) (OH)8
Biotite K(Fe,Mg)3(AlSi3O10) (OH)2
Muscovite KAl2(AlSi3O10) (OH)2
6. Tectosilicates: 3-D frameworks of linked tetrahedra (SiO2 etc.)
Quartz SiO2
Orthoclase KAlSi3O8 - (K, Na) AlSi3O8
Plagioclase (albite-anorthite)
Anorthite CaAl2Si2O8
Albite NaAlSi3O8

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Page last updated August 20, 2007 by Penny Morton