What are Silicate Minerals?

Silicate Minerals Important Rock-Forming Minerals

The silicate group of minerals make up the largest and most important class of rock-forming minerals.  Understanding their structure enables geologists to identify almost all rocks on Earth.  This is possible because they contain the most common minerals.

The silicates are a complex group of minerals whose basic structure includes silica.  Silicon dioxide also known as quartz is the most common mineral in Earth's crust.  It's a chemical compound of silicon and oxygen.  Silicon is sometimes confused for silica which is silicon dioxide.