Table of Contents
Feldspar Definition
Feldspar is a common mineral that forms rocks. It is made up of potassium, sodium, and calcium aluminosilicates and normally appears as colorless or pale-colored crystals.
A class of aluminum tectosilicate minerals known as feldspar also includes the cations sodium, calcium, potassium, and barium. Plagioclase feldspar and alkali feldspar are the two most prevalent feldspar species.
Both intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks, as well as many other types of metamorphic rocks, are composed of feldspar that crystallizes from magma. Anorthosites are rocks that are virtually entirely made of calcareous plagioclase feldspar. Numerous varieties of sedimentary rocks include feldspar as well.
Characteristics Of Feldspar
Despite the fact that there are several feldspar minerals, they all have strikingly similar and constrained physical characteristics. The majority of them have 90 degree or almost 90 degree intersections between two directions with perfect cleavage.
Picking up an igneous rock with crystals only a few millimeters in size and examining it with a hand-held magnifying glass can allow anyone knowledgeable with feldspar fragmentation to easily distinguish feldspar from other minerals in the rock.
They all have a glassy shine, and the cleavage planes frequently exhibit pearlescent brilliance as well. The feldspar mineral group’s generalized physical characteristics are listed in the table that follows. Even when the feldspar crystals are very small, these constant features of feldspar are still very beneficial.
Uses Of Feldspar
Tiles, toilet fixtures, and dinnerware are all made from feldspar. Feldspar is utilized as a flux in the manufacture of ceramics and glass. A flux is a substance that reduces another substance’s melting point, in this case, the melting point of glass.
Other minerals and mineral combinations with comparable physical qualities can be used in place of feldspar. Pyrophyllite, clays, talc, and feldspar-silica blends are a few minerals that could be utilized as feldspar substitutes. For the near future, these substitutions won’t be necessary due to the widespread availability of feldspar.