mineral
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase / Microcline)
KAlSi3O8
Mohs hardness 6, pinkish-orange to salmon red color, vitreous to pearly luster, monoclinic or triclinic crystal system, perfect cleavage in two directions meeting at nearly 90 degrees, specific gravity 2.56-2.58.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 6, pinkish-orange to salmon red color, vitreous to pearly luster, monoclinic or triclinic crystal system, perfect cleavage in two directions meeting at nearly 90 degrees, specific gravity 2.56-2.58.
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous rocks like granite and pegmatites through the crystallization of magma, as well as in high-grade metamorphic rocks like gneiss.
Uses & applications
Widely used in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, enamel, soaps, and abrasives. High-grade, gemmy varieties like sunstone or moonstone are used in jewelry.
Geological facts
Feldspars make up around 60% of the Earth's crust, making them the most abundant group of minerals in the continental crust.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its characteristic salmon pink to reddish color, Mohs hardness of 6 (scratches glass, not scratched by a steel nail), and distinct cleavage planes with a pearly sheen.
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sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
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Mineral/Rock