Earth Science
MINERAL GROUPS
USING CHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION

N
O
N

S
I
L
I
C
A
T
E
S

CHEMICAL GROUP MINERAL  CHEMICAL FORMULA

elements
graphite, diamond  C
native copper Cu
oxides hematite Fe2O3
magnetite  Fe3O4
corundum Al2O3
sulfides galena PbS
sphalerite ZnS
pyrite FeS2
sulfates gypsum CaSO4 - 2 H2O
barite BaSO4
halides halite NaCl
fluorite CaF2
carbonates calcite CaCO3
dolomite Ca,Mg(CO3)2

S
I
L
I
C
A
T
E
S

olivine olivine (Mg,Fe)2 SiO4
pyroxenes augite (pyroxene) complex silicate
amphiboles hornblende (amphibole) complex silicate with hydroxyl (water) groups
calcium-rich plagioclase felspars labradorite NaAlSi3O8 to CaAlSi2O8
sodium-rich plagioclase feldspars albite NaAlSi3O8 to CaAlSi2O8
potassium feldspars microcline, orthoclase KAlSi3O8
garnets almandine, pyrope complex silicate

sheet silicates
muscovite mica KAl2(AlSi 3O10) (OH)
biotite mica K(Mg,Fe)3 (AlSi 3O10)(OH)2
talc Mg3Si4010(OH)2
silica quartz, chalcedony SiO2