1. Mineral Groups Rock-forming minerals Only a few dozen
Most abundant atoms in Earth’s crust are oxygen (46.6% by weight) and silicon (27.7% by weight)

2. Mineral Groups Eight elements compose most rock-forming minerals:
oxygen (O),
silicon (Si),
aluminum (Al)
iron (Fe)
calcium (Ca)
sodium (Na)
potassium (K)
magnesium (Mg)

3. Composition of Continental Crust

4. Mineral Groups Rock-forming silicates Most common mineral group
Contain the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
Four oxygen atoms surrounding a much smaller silicon atom
Combines with other atoms to form the various silicate structures

5. Mineral Groups Rock-forming silicates
Groups based upon tetrahedral arrangement
Olivine – independent tetrahedra
Pyroxene group – tetrahedra are arranged in chains
Amphibole group – tetrahedra are arranged in double chains

6. Hornblende: An Amphibole

7. Mineral Groups Rock-forming silicates
Groups based upon tetrahedral arrangement
Micas – tetrahedra are arranged in sheets
Two types of mica are biotite (dark) and muscovite (light)
Feldspars – Three-dimensional network of tetrahedra

8. Mineral Groups Rock-forming silicates
Groups based upon tetrahedral arrangement
Feldspars – most abundant group of minerals in Earth’s crust
Quartz – three-dimensional network of tetrahedra

9. Potassium feldspar

10. Rose Quartz

11. Mineral Groups Nonsilicate minerals – major groups Oxides Sulfides
Carbonates
Halides
Native elements

12. Common Nonsilicate Mineral Groups

13. Minerals Mineral groups Nonsilicate minerals Carbonates
A major rock-forming group
Found in the rocks limestone and marble
Halite and gypsum are found in sedimentary rocks
Many have economic value

14. Natural Resources Renewable Nonrenewable
Can be replenished in relatively short time spans
Corn, wind, water, etc.
Nonrenewable
Earth has fixed quantities
Oil, aluminum, natural gas, coal

15. Natural Resources Mineral resources
Mineral resources are occurrences of useful minerals that will eventually be extracted
Ore deposits are concentrations of metallic minerals that can be mined at a profit
Economic factors may change and influence a resource

16. Copper Mining