CladesNesosilicates: isolated silicon tetrahedra; [SiO4]4: olivine, garnet, zircon.
Sorosilicates: double tetrahedra; [Si2O7]6: epidote, melilite group
Cyclosilicates: rings; [SinO3n]2n: tourmaline group
Inosilicates: single chain; [SinO3n]2n; pyroxenegroup
Inosilicates: double chain; [Si4nO11n]6n: amphibole group
Phyllosilicates: sheets; [Si2nO5n]2nn: micas, clays
Tectosilicates: 3D framework; [AlxSiyO(2x+2y)]x: quartz, feldspars, zeolites