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SilicateActinolite
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Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 Other names/forms:
Tremolite |
Most distinguishing features:
Habit and colour are best indicators. |
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SilicateAntigorite
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Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Other names/forms:
Serpentine |
Most distinguishing features:
Lustre, colour and habit are indicative. |
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SilicateAugite
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(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(SiAl)2O6 |
Most distinguishing features:
Colour, cleavage and hardness are indicative of a pyroxene. Augite has 2 cleavage planes at 90°. Industrial/economical uses:
None. |
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SilicateBiotite
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K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features:
Colour and habit Industrial/economical uses:
Altered into vermiculite, biotite is used as an insulation material and as filler in certain building supplies. |
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SilicateChalcedony
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SiO2 Other names/forms:
Micro/Cryptocrystalline Quartz |
Most distinguishing features:
Identified by hardness and texture/habit. Industrial/economical uses:
Used for making glass and as a source of Silicon. |
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SilicateChlorite
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(Mg,Fe,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features:
Colour and its low hardness are distinguishing characteristics. Industrial/economical uses:
None, however chlorite schist sometimes does have ornamental uses. |
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SilicateChrysotile
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Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Other names/forms:
Serpentine |
Most distinguishing features:
Habit and colour and most indicative properties. Industrial/economical uses:
Used in 98% of world's production of asbestos. |
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SilicateEpidote
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Ca2(Fe,Al)3(SiO4)3(OH) |
Most distinguishing features:
Slight colour difference between this mineral and olivine, but only under magnification (where details in the crystals can be seen). Also indicitive is the presence of a cleavage plane. Industrial/economical uses:
Semiprecious gemstone |
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SilicateGarnet
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(Mg,Fe,Ca)3Al2(SiO4)3 Other names/forms:
Pyrope, Grossular, Almandine |
Most distinguishing features:
Crystal habit, colour and hardness. Industrial/economical uses:
Abrasives (particularly sandpaper), semi-precious gemstone. |
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SilicateHornblende
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Ca2(Mg,Fe)4Al(Si7Al)O22(OH,F)2 |
Most distinguishing features:
Prominent striations, prismatic crystals and angle on cleavages is distinguishing. Industrial/economical uses:
Ornamental. |
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SilicateKaolinite
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Al2Si2O5(OH)4 |
Most distinguishing features:
Distinctive "clayey" smell, hardness and colour are indicative. Industrial/economical uses:
Paper coating/filler, drilling mud additive, ceramics, cosmetics, building supplies, cement, pharmaceuticals and even food. |
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SilicateKyanite
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Al2SiO5 |
Most distinguishing features:
Bladed habit, colour, and difference of hardness along and across cleavages |
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SilicateMuscovite
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KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features:
Colour and habit are best indicators. Industrial/economical uses:
Used in the electronics industry in the manufacture of capacitors, transistors, insulators and certain window types. Also used as a filler in building materials. |
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SilicateNepheline
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(Na,K)AlSiO4 |
Most distinguishing features:
Resembles quartz but instead is softer. Industrial/economical uses:
Used in the manufacture of ceramics and glass. |
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SilicateOlivine
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Mg2SiO4 - Fe2SiO4 Other names/forms:
Forsterite (Mg) and Fayalite (Fe) |
Most distinguishing features:
Pistachio-green colour and granular habit. Industrial/economical uses:
Peridote (a translucent variety of olivine) is considered a 'gem' mineral. Also used as a refractory sand and infrequently as an abrasive. |
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SilicateOrthoclase
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KAlSi3O8 Other names/forms:
Kspar |
Most distinguishing features:
Colour and evidence of exsolution with plagioclase. |
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SilicatePlagioclase
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CaAl2Si2O8 Other names/forms:
Anothite (Ca), Albite (Na) |
Most distinguishing features:
Parallel striations and white-gray colour separates this mineral from orthoclase (Kspar). Industrial/economical uses:
Concrete, filler, sand, gravel, etc. |
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SilicateStaurolite
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Fe2Al9O6(SiO4)4(O,OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features:
The "staurolite cross" and colour are indicative. Industrial/economical uses:
Used as an abrasive due to its high hardness. |
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SilicateTalc
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Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features:
Mineral is very soft and are often compact masses. Colour is typical and varies to brown, green or gray. |
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SilicateTopaz
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Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features:
Resembles quartz, but harder. Industrial/economical uses:
Gemstone |
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SilicateTourmaline
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Na(Mg,Fe,Li,Mn,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH,F)4 |
Most distinguishing features:
Columnar crystals and vertical striations are characteristic, also has poor cleavage. Industrial/economical uses:
Gemstone. Due to piezoelectric properties, it is also used in the manufacture of pressure gauges and other electronic components. |
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SilicateTremolite
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Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 Other names/forms:
Actinolite |
Most distinguishing features:
Noticable habit of white acicular grains. Industrial/economical uses:
Sometimes used as an asbestos mineral, and thus linked as a health hazard. |
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SilicateWollastonite
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CaSiO3 |
Most distinguishing features:
Resembles tremolite, but has different cleavage. Industrial/economical uses:
Replacement for chrysotile asbestos in fire-resistant building supplies. Also used in paints, film and plastics. |
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SilicateZircon
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ZrSiO4 |
Most distinguishing features:
Excellent crystalline habit, density and streak/colour are indicative. Industrial/economical uses:
Source of zirconium and hafnium |
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