Which type of mineral accounts for over 90% of the Earth's crust?

Silicates are the dominant group of minerals in the Earth's crust, comprising over 90% of it. This prevalence is primarily due to the abundance of silicon and oxygen, which are two of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust. Silicate minerals are characterized by the presence of the silicate tetrahedron, a structure made of four oxygen atoms surrounding a single silicon atom. This tetrahedral configuration allows for a variety of complex structures and bonding arrangements, leading to a diverse array of silicate minerals.

The significance of silicates lies in their wide variety, which includes familiar minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and mica. These minerals form the basis for many rocks, including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary types. Due to their structural versatility and the abundance of their constituent elements, silicates not only dominate the mineral composition of the crust but also play a critical role in various geological processes.