Silicate Mineral Structure

• Island Silicates

  Higher Density, fractures, strong covalent bonds, high hardness
• Island Silicate Example

  Olivine
• Single Chain Silicate

  Form chain structures; Oxygen Bridging

  Cleavage

  Ionic Bonds

  Lower density - not so tightly packed, low iron
• Single Chain Example

  Augite
• Double Chain

  Lower Density (not much compaction)

  Ionic & Covalent (lower hardness than island)

  cleavage
• Double Chain Example

  Hornblende
• Sheet Silicates

  Ionic bonds, cleavage, low hardness, low density
• Sheet Silicates Example

  Biotite, Muscovite Mica
• Framework Silicates

  Covalents bonds, fracture, high hardness, low density
• Framework Silicate Example

  Quartz