mineral
Pink Feldspar
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase / Microcline), KAlSi3O8
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, pink to salmon-orange color, vitreous to pearly luster, monoclinic or triclinic crystal system, and two directions of good cleavage at nearly right angles.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, pink to salmon-orange color, vitreous to pearly luster, monoclinic or triclinic crystal system, and two directions of good cleavage at nearly right angles.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily through the slow cooling of felsic igneous magmas like granite and pegmatite, and is also found in metamorphic gneisses.
Uses & applications
Used heavily in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, porcelain, and occasionally as a minor gemstone or lapidary material.
Geological facts
Feldspars are the single most abundant mineral group in the Earth's crust, making up about 60% of terrestrial rocks.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its characteristic pink or salmon hue and blocky cleavage planes; common worldwide in granitic terrains.
