Silicate

Silicate is a compound made up of silicon and oxygen atoms, forming a building block for many minerals and rocks. It's the most common component of Earth's crust, found in materials like quartz, feldspar, and clay. Silicates have a structured, crystalline or granular form that gives rocks their strength and durability. They are essential in geology, helping us understand the Earth's composition, and are also used in manufacturing ceramics, glass, and cement. Essentially, silicates are fundamental natural materials that shape much of our planet's solid surface and are vital to various industrial processes.