Final answer:
Silicate minerals account for approximately 90% of the Earth's crust, with Quartz and feldspar being common examples. Silicon and oxygen are the most abundant elements in the crust, forming the silicon-oxygen tetrahedra that make up silicate minerals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Silicate minerals make up approximately 90% of the Earth’s crust, with the remaining 10% being nonsilicate minerals. Quartz and feldspar are common examples of silicate minerals. These minerals are formed around the structure of the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, which is the fundamental building block of all silicate minerals. The Earth's crust is largely made up of these minerals, with silicon and oxygen being the most abundant elements. These silicate minerals create the bulk of many common rocks, soils, and clays and are used in materials such as bricks, ceramics, and glass.