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Silicate Minerals

Silicates are the largest mineral group, built from silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, and they make up more than 90 percent of the Earth's crust. This list covers the silicate minerals in the StoneSnap database outside the quartz and feldspar families.

Mohs hardness in this group runs from 1.5 to 7.75.

Also browse:Quartz VarietiesSemi-Precious StonesPrecious StonesSulfide MineralsPhosphate MineralsNative Element MineralsCarbonate Minerals

All silicate minerals (29)

Jadeite specimen: green and white gemstoneJadeiteMohs 6.75 · White streakKaolinite specimen: white and cream mineralKaoliniteMohs 2 · White streakLazurite specimen: blue and deep blue mineralLazuriteMohs 5.25 · Light blue streakLeucite specimen: white and gray mineralLeuciteMohs 5.75 · White streakMicrocline specimen: white and cream mineralMicroclineMohs 6 · White streakMorganite specimen: pink and peach gemstoneMorganiteMohs 7.75 · White streakMoss Agate specimen: colorless and white gemstoneMoss AgateMohs 6.75 · White streakNatrolite specimen: colorless and white mineralNatroliteMohs 5.5 · White streakNepheline specimen: colorless and white mineralNephelineMohs 6 · White streakOrthoclase specimen: colorless and white mineralOrthoclaseMohs 6 · White streakPhlogopite specimen: brown and yellow mineralPhlogopiteMohs 2.75 · White streakPrasiolite specimen: green and pale green gemstonePrasioliteMohs 7 · White streakPrehnite specimen: green and yellow-green mineralPrehniteMohs 6.25 · White streakPyrope specimen: red and deep red gemstonePyropeMohs 7.25 · White streakPyrophyllite specimen: white and gray mineralPyrophylliteMohs 1.5 · White streakScapolite specimen: white and pink mineralScapoliteMohs 6 · White streakSchorl specimen: black and bluish black mineralSchorlMohs 7 · White to grayish streakSerpentine specimen: green and yellowish green mineralSerpentineMohs 3.5 · White streakSillimanite specimen: white and gray mineralSillimaniteMohs 7 · White streakSpessartine specimen: orange and red mineralSpessartineMohs 7 · White streakSpodumene specimen: pink and lilac mineralSpodumeneMohs 6.75 · White streakStaurolite specimen: reddish brown and brown mineralStauroliteMohs 7.25 · White to grayish streakStilbite specimen: white and pink mineralStilbiteMohs 3.75 · White streakSugilite specimen: purple and violet mineralSugiliteMohs 6 · White streakSunstone specimen: orange and red gemstoneSunstoneMohs 6.5 · White streakTitanite specimen: green and yellow mineralTitaniteMohs 5.5 · White streakTremolite specimen: white and gray mineralTremoliteMohs 5.5 · White streakVesuvianite specimen: green and brown mineralVesuvianiteMohs 6.5 · White streakZoisite specimen: green and pink mineralZoisiteMohs 6.5 · White streak

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common silicate minerals?

The most searched silicate minerals in the StoneSnap database are Jadeite, Kaolinite, Lazurite, Leucite, and Microcline.

How do you identify silicate minerals?

Start with luster and color, then bracket the Mohs hardness with a scratch test and check the streak on unglazed porcelain. Mohs hardness in this group runs from 1.5 to 7.75. Each entry below lists the diagnostic properties and its common look-alikes.

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