GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Silicate minerals are the most common of Earth’s minerals and include quartz, feldspar, mica, amphibole, pyroxene, and olivine.

Detailed explanation-2: -The basic silicate chemical formula is (SiO4)4− ( S i O 4 ) 4 − . Silica minerals are characterized according to how the silica tetrahedral molecules bond to each other and how they bond to other elements.

Detailed explanation-3: -Of the approximately 600 known silicate minerals, only a few dozen-a group that includes the feldspars, amphiboles, pyroxenes, micas, olivines, feldspathoids, and zeolites-are significant in rock formation.

Detailed explanation-4: -The three types of silicates are (i) Orthosilicates, (ii) Pyrosilicates, (iii) Cyclic silicates.