Feldspar

Feldspar is the name of an important group of rock-forming minerals which make up perhaps as much as 60% of the Earth's crust. Feldspars crystallize from magma in both intrusive and extrusive rocks; they occur as compact minerals, as veins, and are also present in many types of metamorphic rock. They are also be found in many types of sedimentary rock.

Feldspar is derived from the German Feld, field, and Spat, a rock that does not contain ore.

This group of minerals consists of framework or tectosilicates:

• orthoclase a potassium-aluminium silicate,
• microcline also a potassium-aluminium silicate, and
• plagioclase a sodium-aluminium silicate to a calcium-aluminium silicate isomorphous series:
  • albite
  • oligoclase
  • andesine
  • labradorite
  • bytownite
  • anorthite.

Uses

• Feldspar is an ingredient in Bon Ami brand household cleaner.
• Feldspar is a component of ceramics.

Related topics

• List of minerals