Albite ( Latin albus - white) is one of the most common rock-forming minerals , white feldspar of magmatic origin, a class of silicates , aluminosilicate of the plagioclase group.
| Albite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Formula | Na [AlSi 3 O 8 ] |
| Impurity | K, Ca, Rb, Cs |
| Physical properties | |
| Color | White gray |
| Trait color | White |
| Shine | Glass |
| Hardness | 6 - 7 |
| Cleavage | Perfect in {001}, average in {010} |
| Kink | Uneven, conchoid; fragile |
| Density | 2.61—2.63 g / cm³ |
| Syngonia | Triclinic (primitive) |
The albite with the irisization of gray-blue, blue-blue or pale violet in color on the planes was named by A. Fersman at the location (on the shore of the White Sea ) white-white . It is also called peristeritis (from Peristeri ).
Content
- 1 Properties
- 2 Deposits
- 3 Application
- 4 References
Properties
The crystals are tabular, twin crystals, polysynthetic twins are found. Composition (%): Na 2 O - 11.67; Al 2 O 3 - 19.35; SiO 2 - 68.44. Impurities: K , Ca , Rb , Cs . Melts with difficulty, slightly soluble in acids. Education is often associated with metasomatic processes. Units are dense, radiant, in the form of grains.
Deposits
First described in 1815 in Sweden . Other places of manifestation: Australia , Kenya , India , Japan , Austria , Germany , Norway , Poland , France , Italy , Switzerland , Ukraine , Russia ( Karelia , Kola Peninsula , Urals ).
Application
Used in ceramic production. For jewelry, samples with an optical effect of irisation are most often used, which are usually processed by grinding in the form of flat cabochons . In scientific research, it is used to determine the degree of metamorphism . A popular collection stone .
Links
- Albit // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- Albite in webmineral.com database
- Albite in the mineral catalog
- White water in the catalog of minerals