Final answer:
The basic building block of silicate minerals is the silica tetrahedron, made up of silicon and oxygen atoms. Silicon dioxide, or silica, which presents in nature mostly as quartz, is a key component of the Earth's crust and of various natural and artificial materials.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic building block of silicate minerals is the silica tetrahedron, which is a combination of four oxygen atoms and one silicon atom forming a geometrical shape known as a tetrahedron. Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, SiO₂, is a fundamental constituent of silicates and is abundant in nature. It is found as quartz, which is one of several crystalline forms of the mineral.
Moreover, silicates represent the largest and most complex class of minerals, forming about 90% of the Earth's crust, with silica being a key component of materials such as granite, gravel, garnet, as well as artificial materials like Portland cement, ceramics, and glass.