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Theory

Classification of Minerals

The classification of minerals is based on their chemistry. The following mineral classes are based on the character of their common anions:

  • Silicates (SiO44-)

  • Oxides (O2-)

  • Sulfides (S2-)

  • Sulfates (SO42-)

  • Halides (Cl-)

  • Fluorites (F-)

  • Phosphates (PO43-)

  • Carbonates (CO32-)

  • Native elements, e.g. Au.


  • The relative abundance of elements in the Earth’s crust (? Composition and structure of Earth) determines which minerals form. As we can see in table x, oxygen is the most abundant anion in the Earth’s crust. Thus, the crust can be seen as a tight package of oxygen anions (O2-), which are bonded by larger cations, such as Si4+, Mg2+, or Al3+. The way atoms are packed together depends on the cation to anion radius ratio (Rx/Rz). With oxygen as the major anion, specific coordination and coordination polyhedra can be expected for different cations.


    Silicate minerals

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