Tektosilikatstrukur

Tektosilicate structures refer to a specific arrangement of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra within silicate minerals. In these structures, each silicon atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms, and each oxygen atom is in turn bonded to two silicon atoms. This creates a three-dimensional framework where the tetrahedra are linked at all four corners. This extensive network of strong covalent bonds results in minerals with high hardness and density. Tektosilicates are characterized by the highest ratio of silicon to oxygen, which is typically 1:2 (Si:O).

The most common and well-known examples of tektosilicate minerals include quartz (SiO2), tridymite, and cristobalite. Feldspars, which are the most abundant mineral group in the Earth's crust, are also tektosilicates. Feldspars have a general formula of XY4O8, where X and Y represent various cations such as aluminum, sodium, potassium, or calcium. The presence of these cations is crucial for maintaining charge balance within the tektosilicate framework. The strong, interconnected structure of tektosilicates makes them relatively resistant to weathering and chemical alteration.