silikaattiverkon

Silikaattiverkon is a Finnish term that translates to "silicate network" in English. It refers to the three-dimensional structure formed by silicon and oxygen atoms in silicate minerals. These minerals are the most abundant class of compounds on Earth, making up over 90% of the Earth's crust. The fundamental building block of all silicate structures is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, where a central silicon atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms arranged at the corners of a tetrahedron.

The way these tetrahedra link together through shared oxygen atoms determines the specific type of silicate structure and its properties. Common silicate structures include isolated tetrahedra (orthosilicates), pairs of tetrahedra (sorosilicates), rings of tetrahedra (cyclosilicates), chains of tetrahedra (inosilicates), double chains (amphiboles), and sheets of tetrahedra (phyllosilicates). The most complex and robust structures are the three-dimensional frameworks (tectosilicates), such as those found in quartz and feldspars. The strength and arrangement of the silikaattiverkon significantly influence the mineral's hardness, cleavage, melting point, and chemical stability. Understanding the silikaattiverkon is crucial in fields such as geology, mineralogy, and materials science.