what is the largest group of minerals
by far the largest chemical group This group of minerals contains SiO44- as the dominant polyanion. In these minerals the Si4+ cation is always surrounded by 4 oxygens in the form of a tetrahedron. Because Si and O are the most abundant elements in the Earth, this is the largest group of minerals and is divided into subgroups based on the degree of polymerization of the SiO4 tetrahedra. rock-forming minerals