Common Rock-Forming Minerals

Common rock-forming minerals are the essential building blocks of Earth's crust, making up most rocks. Key types include quartz, which is made of silicon and oxygen and appears clear or white; feldspar, a group of minerals that often give rocks a pink or white color; and mica, which has thin, shiny sheets. These minerals form through natural processes like cooling magma or altering existing rocks. They are stable, abundant, and define many rock types such as granite and sandstone, playing a crucial role in Earth's geology and landscape formation.