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Minerals
Minerals are natural substances created through geological processes. According to the International Mineralogical Association, a mineral must be a naturally occurring element or chemical compound that is normally crystalline in structure and formed through geological processes. New classifications include both inorganic and organic minerals. Minerals are found in all parts of our life, from our toothpastes to meteorites that traveled light years through space.
Silicate Class
The silicate class is one of the most complex classes of minerals. Based on their structure, the silicates are divided into six subclasses: neosilicates, sorosilicates, inosilicates, cyclosilicates, phyllosilicates and tectosilicates. The neosilicate class is made up of silicates where the SiO4 tetrahedron, the basic chemcial unit of all silicates, is unbonded to other tetrahedrons. The neosilicates include aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate and iron silicate. Sorosilicates have two silicate tetrahedrons bonded by an oxygen molecule. It is the smallest of the silicate subclasses and includes beryllium silicate hydroxide, calcium boro-silicate and calcium aluminum silicate hydroxide. Inosilicates can be a single- or double-chained silicate. In the single-chained inosilicates, the tetrahedrons are bound by two oxygen molecules. In double-chained inosilicates, two single chains are side by side. This subclass includes sodium iron silicate and sodium iron silicate hydroxide. Cyclosilicates, such as beryllium aluminum silicate and copper silicate hydroxide, are chained like the inosilicates, but the chains themselves form a ring structure. Phyllosilicates are silicates where the rings 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 four 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 characteristics found in most carbonates. These characteristics include being somewhat soluble in acid, average to above average density and good cleavage. The carbonates include two smaller subsets in addition to regular carbonates; these subsets are the rare earth carbonates and uranyls. Uranyl carbonates contain uranium and rare earth carbonates are also commonly known as rare earth minerals or elements.
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 baby powder. Carbonates including calcium carbonate are used in agriculture, medical fields and even chalk.