North Cascades Geology Common Rock-forming Minerals And Their Elements

Type

Mineral family - composition

Light-Colored Silicates

Quartz - silicon dioxide or silica Feldspar - silicon tetroxide plus varying amounts of aluminum, sodium, calcium, and potassium

Dark-Colored Silicates

Nonsilicates

Mica - silicon tetroxide plus varying amounts of aluminum, postassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and water Pyroxene - silicon tetroxide plus varying amounts of aluminum, iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium Amphibole - silicon tetroxide plus varying amounts of aluminum, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium and water Olivine - silicon tetroxide plus varying amounts of iron and magnesium Calcite - calcium carbonate

Of the seven abundant minerals, feldspars, micas, pyroxenes, amphiboles, and olivines are really mineral families, with a variety of named members. We mention other important mineral families on other pages. Minerals are crystalline substances, meaning that the atoms of their constituent elements are arranged in a definite geometric structure. This structure gives minerals specific physical properties, which geologists, and everyone else for that matter, can identify in the field. North Cascades Minerals And Rocks