Tag: Carbonates

Over 90% of Earth's crust is composed of silicate minerals, making them by far the most abundant mineral group. These and other minerals are systematically categorized by mineralogists primarily based on their chemical composition. Understanding this classification is fundamental to studying geology and how Earth is formed.

Comprising approximately 4% of the Earth's crust, calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) is a ubiquitous chemical compound that is the foundational material for many of nature's formations and an essential component in a vast array of industrial products. Its composition, however, is far more complex and fascinating than its simple formula suggests.

The vast majority of Earth's crust, over 90%, is composed of just one mineral group: the silicates. Mineralogy, the scientific study of minerals, classifies these naturally occurring inorganic solids primarily based on their chemical composition, which organizes the thousands of known mineral types into distinct classes. Understanding what are the four major groups of minerals provides a fundamental framework for comprehending geology.

The Earth's crust is composed of approximately 90% silicate minerals, a testament to the abundance of silicon and oxygen. Given the vast number of minerals, it's essential to understand what can minerals be classified as to make sense of their diverse properties and occurrences. This classification is primarily based on their chemical composition and internal atomic arrangement, allowing for a systematic approach to studying them.