Kvartsiryhmä

Kvartsiryhmä refers to a group of silicate minerals that share a common crystal structure. The most prominent member of this group is quartz, which is silicon dioxide (SiO2). Other minerals in the kvartsiryhmä group include tridymite and cristobalite, which are polymorphs of quartz, meaning they have the same chemical composition but different crystal structures, often forming at different temperatures and pressures.

These minerals are characterized by their tetrahedral arrangement of silicon and oxygen atoms. In quartz, these tetrahedra link together to form a continuous three-dimensional framework. This structure gives kvartsiryhmä minerals their hardness, often ranking 7 on the Mohs scale, and their relative chemical inertness.

Kvartsiryhmä minerals are abundant in the Earth's crust, found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Their physical properties, such as piezoelectricity in quartz, make them useful in various industrial applications, including electronics, optics, and construction. The specific properties and formation conditions vary among the members of the kvartsiryhmä, distinguishing them from one another despite their shared structural foundation.