A silicate mineral is a type of mineral composed of silicate groups, which are made up of silicon and oxygen atoms. Two examples of silicate minerals are MICA and PYROXENE. MICA is a group of minerals that have a layered or platy structure, and it is often used in construction and insulation. PYROXENE is a group of minerals that form in igneous and metamorphic rocks, and it is composed of single chains of silicate tetrahedra.