feldspar
Crust's dominant mineral
Feldspar is a group of minerals that make up the bulk of Earth's crust—the most abundant minerals on the planet.
These aluminum silicates appear in most igneous and metamite rocks, from granite to basalt.
Feldspar weathers into clay and provides the calcium, potassium, and sodium that enrich soils.
It's also used in ceramics and glassmaking.
Iridescent feldspar gemstone
- labradoriteIridescent feldspar mineral
- sunstoneReflective inclusion-bearing feldspar
- amazoniteGreen microcline variety
- alkaliAcid-neutralizing ionic compound
potassium · sodium · calcium · barium · silicate · petrology
Iridescent feldspar gemstone
- labradoriteIridescent feldspar mineral
- sunstoneReflective inclusion-bearing feldspar
- amazoniteGreen microcline variety
- cabochonDomed, unfaceted gemstone
schiller · iridescence · jewelry · polished · specimen
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- rhyolitePale volcanic igneous rock
- andesiteIntermediate volcanic rock
- dioriteFeldspar-hornblende igneous rock
gabbro · intrusive · extrusive · plutonic · volcanic · magma · crystallization · porphyry
Forming identical pairs
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- prismaticLight-dispersing, multicolored
- habitSettled regular tendency
lamellae · striations · luster · vitreous · opaque · translucent · crystal · matrix
moonstone
Iridescent feldspar gemstone
- labradoriteIridescent feldspar mineral
- sunstoneReflective inclusion-bearing feldspar
- amazoniteGreen microcline variety
alkali · potassium · sodium · calcium · barium · silicate · petrology
moonstone
Iridescent feldspar gemstone
- labradoriteIridescent feldspar mineral
- sunstoneReflective inclusion-bearing feldspar
- amazoniteGreen microcline variety
cabochon · schiller · iridescence · jewelry · polished · specimen
granite
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- rhyolitePale volcanic igneous rock
- andesiteIntermediate volcanic rock
diorite · gabbro · intrusive · extrusive · plutonic · volcanic · magma · crystallization · porphyry · batholith
twinning
Forming identical pairs
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- prismaticLight-dispersing, multicolored
habit · lamellae · striations · luster · vitreous · opaque · translucent · crystal · matrix
porcelain
Translucent fired clay
china · stoneware · earthenware · vitreous · kiln · firing · flux · frit · bisque · dinnerware
abrasive
Rough enough to erode
scouring · aggregate · cement · calcium · sodium · potassium · flux · bonding · manufactured · construction
- feldsparslabradorite, amazonite, moonstone, sunstone
- earth science stuffrocks, minerals, fossils, soil, sand
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- mineralsquartz, marble, granite, limestone, sandstone
- rocks & mineralscrystal, quartz, amethyst, diamond, ruby
- crystalsquartz, amethyst, diamond, citrine, rose quartz
- potassium feldsparAlkali aluminum silicate mineral