Which mineral is most abundant in the Earth's continental crust?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Feldspar.
Explanation:
☛ Feldspar is the most abundant mineral group in the Earth's continental crust, making up approximately 41% to 50% of the crust by weight.
☛ Feldspars are rock-forming tectosilicate minerals composed of aluminium and silica, combined with varying amounts of potassium, sodium, and calcium.
☛ The two major types of feldspar are Plagioclase feldspar (sodium-calcium rich) and Potassium feldspar / Orthoclase (potassium-rich).
☛ Quartz is the second most abundant mineral found in the continental crust, accounting for about 12% of its total mass.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Olivine: A magnesium-iron silicate mineral that is extremely abundant in the Earth's upper mantle, but scarce in the continental crust.
☛ Amphibole: A group of inosilicate minerals that makes up roughly 5% of the continental crust.
☛ Mica: A group of phyllosilicate minerals that constitutes about 4% to 5% of the crust and exhibits excellent basal cleavage.
☛ The two most abundant chemical elements in the Earth's crust by mass are Oxygen (~46.6%) followed by Silicon (~27.7%).
☛ The continental crust is commonly referred to as SIAL because it is predominantly composed of silica (Si) and aluminium (Al).
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust? → Quartz
☛ Which chemical element is the most abundant in the Earth's crust? → Oxygen
☛ What term is used to describe the continental crust due to its high composition of silica and aluminium? → SIAL
☛ What is the boundary that separates the Earth's crust from the mantle? → Mohorovicic Discontinuity (Moho)
☛ Which mineral is the primary constituent of the Earth's upper mantle? → Olivine