albite

/'ælbait/

Thân thiện

Albite is a common white mineral found in granite.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A common white or colorless mineral: Albite is a specific type of feldspar, a group of rock-forming minerals. It is a tectosilicate and is the sodium-rich endmember of the plagioclase feldspar series.
   • A rock-forming mineral: It is a major component in many igneous, metamorphic, and some sedimentary rocks, such as granite and gneiss.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The granite sample contained large crystals of albite.
  • Albite is often found in association with other minerals like quartz and mica.

Advanced Usage

• In Petrology: Albite's composition (NaAlSi₃O₈) is crucial for classifying rocks. The ratio of albite to anorthite (the calcium-rich feldspar) defines the plagioclase series.
  • The plagioclase in this rock is predominantly albite, indicating a sodium-rich magma source.

Variants and Related Words

• Plagioclase (n): The solid solution series of feldspar minerals between albite (sodium) and anorthite (calcium).
• Alkali Feldspar (n): A different feldspar group that includes albite's potassium-bearing counterparts like orthoclase and microcline.

Synonyms

• Sodium Feldspar: A direct synonym emphasizing its chemical composition.
• White Feldspar: A descriptive synonym based on its common color, though it can be colorless.

Related Phrases

• Albite Twin Law: A specific type of crystal twinning common in albite crystals.
  • The thin section showed clear evidence of the albite twin law under the microscope.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a widely distributed feldspar that forms rocks

Từ đồng nghĩa

• white feldspar