Collection: CARBONATES, NITRATES, BORATES

Carbonate minerals feature the anionic complex (CO3)2–, which has a triangular shape with a carbon atom in the middle and an oxygen atom at each corner of the triangle. These anionic groups are tightly bonded units that don’t share oxygen atoms among themselves. The triangular carbonate groups serve as the fundamental building blocks of all carbonate minerals and play a key role in defining the unique properties of this mineral class.