Geology 101 - Lecture 5

(Brief Outline Only)

Introduction to Minerals

Definition -


Types -

• silicates - basic building block, the silicate tetrahedra
  • Isolated tetrahedra - i.e., olivine
  • single chain silicates
  • double chain silicates
  • sheet silicates
  • 3-dimensional framework silicates
  • How does cleavage in silicate minerals relate to their atomic construction?
• carbonates
• oxides
• sulfides
• native elements

Click here for a great website showing how chemistry is used to learn about processes that form igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, as well as how old the Earth is


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