Chain Structure Silicate Mineral

Because the silica backbone is a chain extending in one direction and distributed in parallel, the anisotropy of its crystal structure is much more prominent than that of islands and rings. Minerals are elongated in shape, often in columnar, needle-like and fibrous shapes. In terms of physical properties, cleavage is more developed in the direction parallel to the chain, the refractive index is higher in the direction parallel to or close to the parallel chain, and the direction perpendicular to the chain is lower, and the birefringence is larger than that of island or cyclic minerals. The pleochroism and absorptivity of minerals with transition elements in the chemical composition are very obvious, such as the pyroxene and amphibole minerals rich in iron, titanium and other elements.