1. Kinds of Minerals

2. Objectives Compare the two main groups of minerals
Identify the six types of silicate crystalline structures
Describe three common nonsilicate crystalline structures

3. More than 4,000 minerals have been found, but fewer than 20 are common.
Common minerals are called rock forming minerals
This is because they form the rocks that make up Earth’s crust.

4. The two main groups
All minerals can be classified into two main groups
Silicate Minerals
Nonsilicate Minerals
Their classification is based on the chemical composition of the minerals

5. Silicate Minerals
Minerals that contain a combination of silicon and oxygen.
This is the most abundant group of minerals
An example would be Quartz
Silicates can have one or more additional elements as well.
An example is Orthoclase. Orthoclase also contains potassium.

6. Nonsilicate Minerals
Minerals that do not contain compounds of silicon and oxygen.
This category includes all minerals that are not silicates

7. Nonsilicate Minerals Broken into 6 major classes
Carbonates – compounds that contain a carbonate group
Ex: Calcite

8. Nonsilicate Minerals
Halides – compounds that consist of chlorine or fluorine combined with sodium, potassium, or calcium
Ex: Halite (sodium chloride or SALT)

9. Nonsilicate Minerals
Native elements – elements uncombined with other elements
Ex: Silver (Ag) or Copper (Cu)

10. Nonsilicate Minerals
Oxides – compounds that contain oxygen and an element other than silicon.
Ex: Hematite

11. Nonsilicate Minerals Sulfates – compounds that contain a sulfate group
Ex: Anhydrite

12. Nonsilicate Minerals
Sulfides – compounds that consist of one or more elements combined with sulfur.
Ex: Pyrite

13. Crystalline Structure
A crystal is a solid whose atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern.
Each mineral has its own unique crystal structure.

15. Models
Create models with toothpicks and marshmallows of the six kinds of silicate mineral arrangements and label them!
If you are unsure, Page #107 in your textbook!