Common Inosilicate Minerals Pyroxene Group Enstatite-- Mg2(Si2O6) Hypersthene--(Fe,Mg)2(Si2O6) Diopside--CaMg(Si2O6) Hedenbergite--CaFe(Si2O6) Augite--XY(Z2O6) Spodumene--LiAl(Si2O6) Jadeite--NaAl(Si2O6) Aegirine--NaFe(Si2O6) Amphibole Group Anthophyllite--(Mg, Fe)7(Si8O22)(OH)2 Tremolite--Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 Hornblende--X2-3Y5-7Z8O22)(O, OH, F)2 Glaucophane--Na2Mg3Al2(Si8O22)(OH)2 Riebeckite--Na2Fe3Fe3(Si8O22)(OH)2 The links above will take you to the Mineral Gallery website (http://www.galleries.com). Do you need help with the chemical symbols? Click here to go to Los Alamos National Laboratory's Chemistry Division's Periodic Table of the Elements. Think you already know the elements of the periodic table? Check your knowledge with this quiz.

The inosilicates are characterized by single or double chains of linked silicate tetrahedra. Many similarities exist between the two groups. The only readily distinguishing feature between the minerals is that minerals of the single chain inosilicates have 90o cleavage while the minerals of the double chain inosilicates have 60o cleavage. Single chain Double chain Spodumene. A source of lithium. Lithium's largest use is in the manufacture of lubricants and greases. The largest spodumene crystal was found in South Dakota. It was over 14 meters high and weighed over 66,000 kg.

Silicates/Mineral Groups