Which mineral group makes up most of Earth’s crust?

Silicate minerals make up the vast majority of Earth’s crust. These minerals are built around silicon and oxygen, often combined with elements such as aluminum, magnesium, iron, calcium, sodium, and potassium. Because silicon and oxygen are so abundant in the crust, silicates dominate rocks like granite, basalt, and many metamorphic rocks. Common silicates include feldspar, quartz, mica, and olivine. Their chemistry is central to understanding igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic processes.