tetrahedral theory
Quick Summary
The tetrahedral hypothesis in geology proposes that the Earth, originally spherical, shrank into a tetrahedron. This shape, with continents as edges and ocean basins as sides, was thought to maximize surface area for a given volume.1
The fundamental building block of many minerals, particularly silicate minerals, is the silicon tetrahedron. This structure consists of one silicon atom bonded to four oxygen atoms at the corners of a tetrahedron. These units can link together in various ways, forming different mineral structures. Silicate minerals, based on these tetrahedral arrangements, constitute about 95 percent of Earth's crust and upper mantle.2
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