Sorosilicates

 

The sorosilicates are characterized by isolated double silicate tetrahedra that share an oxygen, creating an hourglass-like shape. This subclass contains the smallest number of minerals of all the silicate subclasses. All of the minerals in this subclass are rare except for epidote, which is widespread in metamorphic environments.

Minerals

Epidote
Hemimorphite
Prehnite

Mineral Photos courtesy of R.Weller/Cochise College