General Information: Chemical Formula:KAlSi3O8
Composition:(Molecular Weight = 278.33 gm)
Potassium 14.05 %
K Aluminum 9.69 %
AlSilicon 30.27 %
SiOxygen 45.99 %
O Empirical Formula: KAlSi3O8
Environment:Intrusive and extrusive igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
IMA Status:Approved IMA 1960
Locality:Common world wide occurrences.
Name Origin:From the Greek orthos - "right" and kalo -" I cleave" in allusion to the mineral's right angle of good cleavage.
Physical Properties: Cleavage:[001] Perfect, [010] Good
Color:colorless, greenish, grayish yellow, white, or pink.
Density:2.56
Diaphaniety:Transparent to translucent
Habits:Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline)., Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock., Blocky - Crystal shape tends to be equant (e.g. feldspars).
Hardness:6 - Orthoclase
Luminescence:None.
Luster:Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak:white
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