Nonsilicate Minerals

Nonsilicate minerals are minerals that do not contain silicon-oxygen tetrahedral groups, which are characteristic of silicate minerals. Instead, they are composed of a variety of other elements and chemical groups, such as oxides, carbonates, sulfates, halides, and native elements. These minerals are important in various industrial applications and natural processes, including ores of metals like hematite (iron oxide) and calcite (calcium carbonate). They often form in different geological environments than silicate minerals and display a wide range of structures and chemical compositions. Examples include quartz, calcite, gypsum, and hematite.