* Silicon (Si) is a common element in silicates, a large and important mineral group. Think quartz, feldspar, mica.
* Carbonates (CO3) form their own mineral group, known as carbonates, which includes calcite, dolomite, and magnesite.
* Halides are minerals with halogen elements (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine), forming a group like halite (table salt), fluorite, and sylvite.
* Sulfides are minerals containing sulfur (S) combined with another element, forming a group like pyrite, galena, and cinnabar.
Key Point: While individual minerals might contain multiple elements, they are categorized based on the dominant anion (negatively charged ion) in their chemical formula. For example, a mineral with both silicon and oxygen (SiO2, like quartz) is classified as a silicate, not a carbonate or halide.
