Minerals: Nesosilicates
Minerals are defined by five criteria: 1. Naturally Occurring, 2. Inorganic, 3. Solid, 4. Defined Chemical (Atomic) Formula, and 5. A unique set of physical properties.
Nesosilicates
-have isolated (SiO4) tetrahedra linked by a non-silicon cation.
Almandine Garnets
Grossular Garnet
Spessartine Garnet
Pyrope Garnet
Willemite
Zircon
Olivine in Basalt Matrix
Olivine Crystal
Olivine Mass
Andalusite
Chaistolite
Datolite
Topaz Crystals
Topaz
Black Kyanite
Kyanite Blade
Kyanite Cluster
Kyanite Mass
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Data: Pellant, Chris. Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks and Minerals, The clearest recognition guides avaiable. A Dorling Kindersley Book.