Why are many minerals silcates?

Question

explain thorougrly

Answer 1

Many minerals are silicates simply because silica is the most abundant mineral base in the earths crust. Shear availability means that more variations will also occur.

Answer 2

Silicon is one of the most abundant elements in the earth's crust, and so it is natural that it forms the bulk of the minerals. Why silicate minerals are so abundant and varied is because silicon, like carbon, can form chain covalent bonds; particularly with oxygen, which can incorporate complex silicate structures, which are the basis of many rock-forming minerals. These are formed from basic SiO4 tetrahedra combined with other metallic elements; in a similar way that CH4 tetrahedra, combined with oxygen and other elements, are the basis of many organic chain compounds.

Edit: Also, during the formation of the earth, the lighter silicates tended to be concentrate in the upper layers of the earth, and the heavier iron-nickel forms the molten core of the earth.

Answer 3

silicon and oxygen are the 2 of the 8 most abundant elements in the earths outer crust and atmosphere.
the silica dioxide molecule easily combines with other abundant minerals to form a stable mineral structure.