Basic The basic silicon tetrahedron, SiO4, has one silicon atom in the middle with fou r oxygen

atoms surrounding it. If you draw straight lines from each of the oxyge n atoms, the shape of a tetrahedron appears as triangles on each side. One oxyge n atom sits on top of the tetrahedron where all the points meet while the other three form the corners of the triangles. Chains The pyroxene group of minerals contains the silicon tetrahedron in chains. An ex ample of a pyroxene is diopside, or CaMgSi2O6. Each tetrahedron in the single ch ain is connected to the next one at a corner, with each tetrahedron sharing two of the oxygen atoms from the adjoining structure. This creates a long single cha in. Double Chains Double chains, such as amphiboles, use the same structure as single chains with the exception that a third oxygen atom is shared. Hornblende is the most abundan t form of amphibole -- a black mineral found in igneous rocks. Sheets Each tetrahedron shares three of its oxygen atoms with another tetrahedron in th e sheet arrangement. The unshared atom points in the same direction in each tetr ahedron on a sheet. Silicon tetrahedrons stack on top of each other, like sheets of a substance. Framework The framework arrangement takes the basic arrangement and then connects each tet rahedron to another at the corner in a continuous 3D structure. Examples of this arrangement are quartz and feldspar.

Minerals Minerals are natural substances created through geological processes. According to the International Mineralogical Association, a mineral must be a naturally oc curring element or chemical compound that is normally crystalline in structure a nd formed through geological processes. New classifications include both inorgan ic and organic minerals. Minerals are found in all parts of our life, from our t oothpastes to meteorites that traveled light years through space. Silicate Class The silicate class is one of the most complex classes of minerals. Based on thei r structure, the silicates are divided into six subclasses: neosilicates, sorosi licates, inosilicates, cyclosilicates, phyllosilicates and tectosilicates. The n eosilicate class is made up of silicates where the SiO4 tetrahedron, the basic c hemcial unit of all silicates, is unbonded to other tetrahedrons. The neosilicat es include aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate and iron silicate. Sorosilicate s have two silicate tetrahedrons bonded by an oxygen molecule. It is the smalles t of the silicate subclasses and includes beryllium silicate hydroxide, calcium boro-silicate and calcium aluminum silicate hydroxide. Inosilicates can be a sin gle- or double-chained silicate. In the single-chained inosilicates, the tetrahe drons are bound by two oxygen molecules. In double-chained inosilicates, two sin gle chains are side by side. This subclass includes sodium iron silicate and sod ium iron silicate hydroxide. Cyclosilicates, such as beryllium aluminum silicate

and copper silicate hydroxide, are chained like the inosilicates, but the chain s themselves form a ring structure. Phyllosilicates are silicates where the ring s of tetrahedrons are bound to other rings with an oxygen molecule, examples of which include magnesium silicate hydroxide and iron magnesium silicate hydroxide . Tectosilicates, also known as framework silicates, are silicates where the fou r oxygen molecules of each SiO4 tetrahedron is shared with another tetrahedron. The tectosilicate subclass is further broken down into five groups: the feldspar , quartz, feldspathoid, scapolite and zeolite groups. Carbonate Class Carbonates are a less complex class than the silicates and have some common char acteristics found in most carbonates. These characteristics include being somewh at soluble in acid, average to above average density and good cleavage. The carb onates include two smaller subsets in addition to regular carbonates; these subs ets are the rare earth carbonates and uranyls. Uranyl carbonates contain uranium and rare earth carbonates are also commonly known as rare earth minerals or ele ments. Common Uses Silicates are common as semi-precious stones known as quartz, agate and garnets. They are also used in microchips, glass and ceramics making. Magnesium silicate is also known as talc or talcum powder and is commonly used in cosmetics and ba by powder. Carbonates including calcium carbonate are used in agriculture, medic al fields and even chalk.