Feldspar

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:Lunar Ferroan Anorthosite 60025.jpg Feldspar is the name of an important group of rock-forming minerals which make up perhaps as much as 60% of the Earth's crust. Feldspars crystallize from magma in both intrusive and extrusive rocks; they occur as compact minerals, as veins, and are also present in many types of metamorphic rock. Rock formed entirely of plagioclase feldspar (see below) is known as anorthosite. Feldspars are also found in many types of sedimentary rock.

Feldspar is derived from the German Feld, field, and Spat, a rock that does not contain ore. Feldspathic refers to materials that contain feldspar.

This group of minerals consists of framework or tectosilicates:

• orthoclase a potassium-aluminium silicate,
• microcline also a potassium-aluminium silicate, and
• plagioclase a sodium-aluminium silicate to a calcium-aluminium silicate isomorphous series:
  • albite
  • oligoclase
  • andesine
  • labradorite
  • bytownite
  • anorthite.

Uses

• Feldspar is an ingredient in Bon Ami brand household cleaner.
• Feldspar is a component of ceramics.

See also

• List of minerals

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