Tag: Native elements

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.

As of May 2025, the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) officially recognizes 6,145 unique mineral species, though that number continues to grow as new discoveries are made. This figure answers the question of how many different kinds of minerals are there, but the full story is far more complex, involving different classification systems and definitions.

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.