1. Mineral Groups

2. Mineral Groups
Out of 3000 minerals that can be found on Earth, only about 30 of these are common
Elements are also found in Earth’s crust (about 90)
The vast majority of minerals are made of the 8 most common elements

3. Silicates
Oxygen and silicon are the 2 most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust
Minerals that contain these 2 elements are known as silicates
These minerals make up approximately 96% of the minerals found in the Earth’s crust
Ex.) quartz and feldspar

4. Carbonates
Carbonates are minerals composed of one or more metallic elements with the carbonate compound CO ex.) calcite & dolomite
There are some carbonates that have distinctive colorations such as azurite and malachite

5. Oxides Oxides are compounds of oxygen and metal
Hematite and magnetite are examples

6. Other Mineral Groups
Other major mineral groups are sulfides, sulfates, halides, and native elements
Examples:
Sulfide – pyrite
Sulfates – anhydrite
Halides – halite and sodium chloride
Native elements – silver and copper