Tecto-silicates have a three-dimensional framework of silicate tetrahedra with all the four oxygen atoms of each tetrahedron being shared with other tetrahedra. This results in an overall silicon-to-oxygen ratio of 1:2. Examples include quartz and feldspars.
As for the other categories:
Neso-silicates or orthosilicates consist of independent silicate tetrahedrons (SiO4)4- that are separated by metal cations. Olivine is an example.
Soro-silicates (or double-island silicates) involve two isolated silicate tetrahedrons connected together. Axinite is an example of a sorosilicate.
Phyllo-silicates or sheet silicates are structured in layers or sheets. Micas like biotite and muscovite, and clays like kaolinite, are examples.
Nesosilicates (Island Silicates)If the corner oxygens are not shared with other SiO
4-4 tetrahedrons, each tetrahedron will be isolated. Thus, this group is often referred to as the island silicate group. The basic structural unit is then SiO
4-4. In this group the oxygens are shared with octahedral groups that contain other cations like Mg
+2, Fe
+2, or Ca
+2. Olivine is a good example: (Mg,Fe)
2SiO
4.
Sorosilicates (Double Island Silicates)
If one of the corner oxygens is shared with another tetrahedron, this gives rise to the sorosilicate group. It is often referred to as the double island group because there are two linked tetrahedrons isolated from all other tetrahedrons. In this case, the basic structural unit is Si
2O
7-6. A good example of a sorosilicate is the mineral hemimorphite - Zn
4Si
2O
7(OH).H
2O. Some sorosilicates are a combination of single and double islands, like in epidote - Ca
2(Fe
+3,Al)Al
2(SiO
4)(Si
2O
7)(OH).
Phyllosilicates (Sheet Silicates)
If 3 of the oxygens from each tetrahedral group are shared such that an infinite sheet of SiO
4 tetrahedra are shared we get the basis for the phyllosilicates or sheet silicates. In this case the basic structural group is Si
2O
5-2. The micas, clay minerals, chlorite, talc, and serpentine minerals are all based on this structure. A good example is biotite - K(Mg,Fe)
3(AlSi
3)O
10(OH)
2. Note that in this structure, Al is substituting for Si in one of the tetrahedral groups.
Tectosilicates (Framework Silicates)
If all of the corner oxygens are shared with another SiO
4 tetrahedron, then a framework structure develops. The basic structural group then becomes SiO
2. The minerals quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite all are based on this structure. If some of the Si
+4 ions are replaced by Al+3 then this produces a charge imbalance and allows for other ions to be found coordinated in different arrangements within the framework structure. Thus, the feldspar and feldspathoid minerals are also based on the tectosilicate framework
So, Silicates with continuous 3D frame work is Tectosilicates.