Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
The structure of silicate minerals determines the minerals' cleavage characteristic.
That's because the mineral cleaves along its weakest planes. In this case, the bonds link-
ing two structures are weaker than the bonds that hold each structure together (the
shared oxygen). For example, a silicate with sheet structure cleaves between the linked
sheets, forming thin mineral layers.
Grouping silicate minerals
To organize the thousands of silicate minerals, geologists categorize them into groups
according to their silicate structure. The seven most common silicate groups and their
associated structures are listed in Table 6-1.
