Silicate Part 2 - Sorosilicates

After the Neso and Ortho silicates come the Sorosilicates.

These are less in number than the first type of silicon mineral and their crystal structure is a bit more complex. Their structure is more like isolated clusters of double tetrahedra  that attach at the points where they can share an oxygen molecule.

Tanzinite (Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)O(OH)) is an example of a Sorosilicate. Not exceedingly interesting but these double tetrehedra are the next step in the silicate family. From here on out the structure gets more complicated quickly.   

Silicates Part 3 - Cyclosilicate

Next in our journey through the silicates is the cyclosilicate. This silicate uses the same building blocks as the previous silicates...except this time there are more of them and in a complete ring formation. As we continue through the silicates you will notice the structure gets more and more complicated, but every silicate is still made from the original units known as tetrahedrons (SiO4)






A good example is the mineral Benitonite (BaTi(Si3O9))
-3 ring formation

Or an Emerald Be3Al2(SiO3)8
-6 ring formation

Fun Fact:
Emeralds are much more rare than diamonds....yet diamonds are still more expensive.