mineral
K-feldspar
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase/Microcline, KAlSi3O8)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, typically pink to reddish-brown in color, vitreous to pearly luster, and two directions of good cleavage at nearly 90 degrees.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, typically pink to reddish-brown in color, vitreous to pearly luster, and two directions of good cleavage at nearly 90 degrees.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily through the slow cooling of silica-rich felsic magmas like granite and pegmatite deep within the Earth's crust.
Uses & applications
Widely used in the manufacture of ceramics, porcelain, glass, and occasionally as a minor gemstone or decorative stone.
Geological facts
It is one of the most abundant rock-forming minerals in the Earth's crust and is a primary component that gives many granites their distinct pinkish hue.
Field identification & locations
Identified easily by its characteristic salmon-pink color, blocky crystal habit, and rectangular cleavage angles; commonly found globally in continental granitic rocks.
