Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 6-6:
The
single chain silic-
ate structure.
Double chains:
Double chain
structures are created when two single chain struc-
tures share a few oxygen atoms, linking the two chains together, as illustrated in
Figure 6-7. An example of a mineral with double chain structure is hornblende.
Figure 6-7:
The
double chain silic-
ate structure.
Sheets:
A
sheet
silicate structure is formed when the three atoms at the base of the
tetrahedra are shared with other tetrahedra, linking them together in a sheet as il-
lustrated in Figure 6-8. The remaining oxygen atoms of each tetrahedral bond one
silicate sheet to another. Biotite is a mineral with sheet silicate structure.
