What is the most abundant mineral on Earth?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

The most abundant mineral on Earth is bridgmanite, also known as silicate-perovskite. It was discovered in 1969 by Percy Bridgman, a Nobel laureate in physics, and is a form of magnesium iron silicate.

Bridgmanite is found deep within the Earth's mantle, where the extreme pressure and temperature cause minerals to behave differently than they do at the surface. It is estimated to make up approximately 38% of the Earth's volume and 70% of the lower mantle.

While bridgmanite is the most abundant mineral overall, it is not the most abundant mineral on the Earth's surface. That distinction goes to feldspar, a group of minerals that make up about 60% of the Earth's crust.