INTRODUCTION

In atmospheric pressure silica

exist in 3 forms ;
quartz(till 870º) ,
tridymite(870º-1470º) and
.cristobalite(1470º-1710º)
Each form has two structure
in high temp.(αform) and
low temp.(βform)
Quartz has less open
structure than the other
two which can be seen in
their densities;
quartz=(2.6g/cm³) ,
tridymite=(2.3g/cm³) and
crisobalite=(2.27g/cm³)
 INTRODUCTION
There are other forms of
silica in higher
pressure such as;
coesite, keatite and
.stishovite
β-quartz can be seen as
helices either left or
right handed , due to
its optical activity it is
either laevo or dextro
.rotary
 CLASSIFICATION
Silicates are classified into 6 categories
according to the way of linkage between
.the tetrahedral silica units
: Those categories are
.Orthosilicates-1
.Pyrosilicates-2
.Cyclic silicates-3
.Chain silicates-4
Layer silicates-5
.Framework silicates-6
 Orthosilicates-1
Contain [(SiO4)2-]
ions , metal ions
occupy interspaces
surrounded by
oxygen atoms
according to their
.size
For example: olivin
.and zircon
 Pyrosilicates-2
The variation of (Si-
O-Si) bond length
is the main interest
.of this type
The most common
example is the
Melitite family such
.as baysilite
 Cyclicsilicates-3
In this type ions are
arranged as layers
but with the metal
ions lying between
these layers and
bind them
.together
.For example; beryl
 Chainsilicates-4
groups share 2 vertices in)MX4(
this type to show (MX3)
.structure for single chain
For single chain there are
pyroxene group
.(spodumene)
As for double chains part of
the tetrahedrals share2
vertices and the rest share
3 vertices. Amphipoles are
a group of minerals with
double chain structure
.(termolite)
 Layersilicates-5
.Tetrahedral units sharing 3 vertices
There are 3 classes for this type;
(i)single layer: forming different
types of nets
(6net,4:8net,4:6:8net,4:6:12net)
Simple buckled layer: sharing 3 vertices)ii(
., 4vertices or both
complecated buckled layer: unshared)iii(
vertices of two layers pointing to the
same side can combine to form a
.double layer with all vertices shared
Then it can be classified to ;(a)
type1(chrysolite),(b)
type2(pyrophyllite),(c)charged
type2(micas),(d) charged type2
with hydrated ions (clays), (e)
.charged of both types
 Frameworksilicates-6
The possible structures are: (a)3
vertices shared (b)3or4 vertices
.shared (c)4 vertices shared
; There are three groups of this type
Feldspars:-discribed as space-)1(
filling arrangement of polyhedral.
These are classified to
:aurthoclase (aurthoclase,
celsian) and plagioclase (albeit)
Zeolites:- have more open)2(
structure and take up water very
easy. Those have 3types: fibrous
.& lamellar& edges zeolites
Ultramarine:- colored materials)3(
used as pigments include lapis
.lazuli mineral . Such as sodalite