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Asked by: Cedric Schmiedecke
science geologyWhich crystal structure do the majority of minerals have?
Beside this, do all minerals have a crystal structure?
Yes, all minerals have crystal structures, quite simply because minerals are DEFINED as having definite crystal structures. There are, however, many different naturally occurring substances made out of the same things as minerals that are very mineral-like, that are not crystals.
Also, which class of minerals is most abundant and why?
Silicates. The silicate mineral class is considered to be the most important of all the mineral classes. About 25% of the known minerals and nearly 40% of the common ones are silicates.
The five most common mineral groups in rock are the silicates, carbonates, sulfates, halides, and oxides. There are about 4000 known minerals in the Earth's crust, and about 92 % of them are silicates. The most abundant silicate is called plagioclase.