Silicates

Largest mineral class, containing silicon-oxygen tetrahedra. Includes tectosilicates (quartz, feldspar), nesosilicates (olivine, garnet), cyclosilicates (beryl, tourmaline), inosilicates (pyroxenes), sorosilicates (epidote), and phyllosilicates (serpentine).

20Gemstones
42Mineral Species

Strunz Class

9

Dana Class

51-78

Mineral Species in Silicates

Astrophyllite

(K,Na)₃(Fe,Mn)₇Ti₂Si₈O₂₄(O,OH)₇

Triclinic system

Axinite

(Ca,Mn,Fe)₃Al₂BO₃Si₄O₁₂(OH)

Triclinic system

Benitoite

BaTiSi₃O₉

Hexagonal system

Beryl

Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈

Hexagonal system

Charoite

K(Ca,Na)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH,F)·nH₂O

Monoclinic system

Chrysocolla

(Cu,Al)₂H₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄·nH₂O

Amorphous system

Clinohumite

Mg₉(SiO₄)₄F₂

Monoclinic system

Danburite

CaB₂Si₂O₈

Orthorhombic system

Dioptase

CuSiO₂(OH)₂

Trigonal system

Dumortierite

(Al,Fe³⁺)₇(SiO₄)₃(BO₃)O₃

Orthorhombic system

Epidote

Ca₂(Al,Fe)₃(SiO₄)₃(OH)

Monoclinic system

Eudialyte

Na₄(Ca,Ce)₂Fe²⁺ZrSi₆O₁₇(OH,Cl)₂

Trigonal system

Feldspar

(K,Na,Ca)(Al,Si)₄O₈

Monoclinic/Triclinic system

Garnet

X₃Y₂(SiO₄)₃

Cubic system

Grandidierite

(Mg,Fe²⁺)Al₃(BO₃)(SiO₄)O₂

Orthorhombic system

Hemimorphite

Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂·H₂O

Orthorhombic system

Iolite

Mg₂Al₄Si₅O₁₈

Orthorhombic system

Kornerupine

Mg₃(Al,Fe³⁺)₆(Si,B)₅O₂₁(OH)

Orthorhombic system

Kyanite

Al₂SiO₅

Triclinic system

Lepidolite

K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂

Monoclinic system

Olivine

(Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄

Orthorhombic system

Opal

SiO₂·nH₂O

Amorphous system

Pectolite

NaCa₂Si₃O₈(OH)

Triclinic system

Phenakite

Be₂SiO₄

Trigonal system

Pollucite

(Cs,Na)₂(Al₂Si₄O₁₂)·2H₂O

Cubic system

Poudretteite

KNa₂B₃Si₁₂O₃₀

Hexagonal system

Prehnite

Ca₂Al(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

Orthorhombic system

Pyroxene

XY(Si,Al)₂O₆

Monoclinic system

Quartz

SiO₂

Trigonal system

Rhodonite

CaMn₃(Si₅O₁₅)

Triclinic system

Scapolite

(Na,Ca)₄[(Al,Si)₂Si₂O₈]₃(Cl,CO₃,SO₄)

Tetragonal system

Serendibite

Ca₂(Mg,Al)₆(Si,Al,B)₆O₁₈

Triclinic system

Serpentine

Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄

Monoclinic system

Sodalite

Na₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)Cl₂

Cubic system

Spodumene

LiAlSi₂O₆

Monoclinic system

Sugilite

KNa₂Li₃(Fe,Mn,Al)₂Si₁₂O₃₀

Hexagonal system

Titanite

CaTiSiO₅

Monoclinic system

Topaz

Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂

Orthorhombic system

Tourmaline

Complex borosilicate

Trigonal system

Vesuvianite

Complex Ca-Mg-Fe-Al silicate

Tetragonal system

Zircon

ZrSiO₄

Tetragonal system

Zoisite

Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)₃(OH)

Orthorhombic system

Silicates Gemstones