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Elements, minerals and rocks
Quick questions on Silicate minerals and mineral classification: the tetrahedron, polymerisation and mineral groups - Eduqas A-Level Geology
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron?Show answer
The fundamental unit of every silicate is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron: one small silicon ion sitting at the centre of four oxygen ions arranged at the corners of a tetrahedron, written . The silicon-oxygen bond is strong (largely covalent), so the way these tetrahedra link together controls the whole structure. Tetrahedra can stay separate or polymerise by sharing corner oxygen atoms with their neighbours.
What are classifying the non-silicate minerals?Show answer
The other major mineral groups are defined by the anion (or by being a pure element):
What is q1?Show answer
Name the structural class (isolated, chain, sheet or framework) of olivine, pyroxene, mica and quartz. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why framework silicates such as quartz are more resistant to weathering than isolated-tetrahedron silicates such as olivine. [3 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
State the defining anion (or element) of the carbonate, sulphide and halide groups, with one named mineral of each. [3 marks]
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