Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Sanidine

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Emmelberg, Üdersdorf, Daun, Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Chinellato Matteo

Show Sanidine Photos (181)



Formula:
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white, grey, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6
Member of:Feldspar Group
Name:From the Greek "sanis" for "little plate" and "idos" for "to see."


Feldspar Group.
Common in volcanic rocks.

See also the other potassium-dominant feldspars microcline and orthoclase.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Sanidine. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Sanidine

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.06-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FA.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
Dana 8th edition ID:76.1.1.2

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
1 : Al-Si Framework with Al-Si frameworks
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.3.7

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
3 : Aluminosilicates of K
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3521.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Sanidine

Type Locality:Drachenfels, Königswinter, Siebengebirge, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Year of Discovery:1808

Occurrences of Sanidine

Geological Setting:Acidic volcanic rocks

Physical Properties of Sanidine

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, grey, yellowish white, or reddish white
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
{001} Perfect, {010} distinct
Parting:{100}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.56 - 2.62 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.56 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sanidine

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 8.6Å, b = 13.03Å, c = 7.17Å
β = 116.03°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.66 : 1 : 0.55
Unit Cell Volume:V 721.96 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Tabular with square cross section
Twinning:Carlsbad - common
Baveno, Manebach - rarer
Comment:High sanidine forms a series with high albite

Optical Data of Sanidine

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.518 - 1.525 nβ = 1.523 - 1.530 nγ = 1.525 - 1.531
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 48° to 64°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.007

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r < v distinct

Chemical Properties of Sanidine

Formula:
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Essential elements:Al, K, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, K, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Ca,Na,H2O

Relationship of Sanidine to other Species

Member of:Feldspar Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Albite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Andesine
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Anorthite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Anorthoclase
(Na,K)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
Buddingtonite
(NH
 
4
)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Bytownite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Celsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Dmisteinbergite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Labradorite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Microcline
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Oligoclase
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Orthoclase
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Paracelsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
Svyatoslavite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.FA.05Kaliophilite
KAlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Kalsilite
KAlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Nepheline
(Na,K)AlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Panunzite
(K,Na)AlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Trikalsilite
(K,Na)AlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
9.FA.05Megakalsilite
KAlSiO
 
4
9.FA.10Malinkoite
NaBSiO
 
4
9.FA.15Virgilite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.FA.25Lisitsynite
KBSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.FA.30Adularia
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Anorthoclase
(Na,K)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Buddingtonite
(NH
 
4
)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Celsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.30Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Microcline
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Orthoclase
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Rubicline
(Rb,K)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Monalbite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.35Albite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.35Andesine
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Anorthite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.35Bytownite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Labradorite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Oligoclase
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.40Paracelsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.45Svyatoslavite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.45Kumdykolite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.50Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.55Lisetite
CaNa
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
9.FA.60Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
9.FA.60Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
9.FA.65Danburite
CaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.65Maleevite
BaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.65Pekovite
SrB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.70Lingunite
(Na,Ca)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.75Kokchetavite
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.3.1Lithosite
K
 
6
Al
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
25
 · 2H
 
2
O
16.3.2Kaliophilite
KAlSiO
 
4
16.3.3Kalsilite
KAlSiO
 
4
16.3.4Leucite
K(AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
)
16.3.5Microcline
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
16.3.6Orthoclase
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
16.3.8Muscovite
KAl
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Sanidine

Synonyms:
Glassy FeldsparGränzeriteRhyacoliteRiacolite
Other Languages:
Finnish:Sanidiini
German:Sanidin
Glasiger Feldspath
Gränzerit
Rhyacolit
Riacolit
Hebrew:סנידין
Italian:Sanidino
Japanese:サニディン
Russian:Санидин
Simplified Chinese:透长石
Spanish:Gränzerita
Rhyacolita
Riacolita
Varieties:
AzuliciteBarium-Sanidine

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Sanidine

Reference List:

- +
Klaproth, M.H. (1810): Chemische Untersuchung des glasigen Feldspaths vom Drachenfels, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Fünfter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 12-18

Onorato E., Penta M., Sgarlata F. -(1963) Struttura del sanidino. Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma pp. 1-34.

Scott, R.B., Bachinski, S.W., Nesbitt, R.W., and Scott, M.R. (1971) Rate of Al-Si ordering in sanidines from an ignimbrite cooling unit. American Mineralogist: 56: 1208-1221.

Bertelmann, D., Förtsch, E., and Wondratscher, H. (1985) Zum Temperverhalten von Sanidin: die Ausnahmerolle der Eifelsanidin-Megakristalle. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 152: 123-141.

Gering, E. (1985) Silizium/Aluminium-Ordnung und Kristallperfektion von Sanidinen. Dissertation, University of karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Bertelmann, D., Walther, J., and Wondratscher, H. (1987) Annealing-induced inclusions and transformation behaviour of Eifel sanidines. Terra Cognita: 7: 257-258.

Bernotat-Wulf, H., Bertelmann, D., and Wondratscher, H. (1988) The annealing behavour of Eifel sanidine (Volkesfeld). III. The influence of the sample surface and sample size on the order-disorder transformation rate. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1988: 504-515.

Ferguson, R.B., Ball, N.A., and Cerny, P. (1991) Structure refinement of an adularian end-member high sanidine from the Buck Claim pegmatite, Bernic Lake, Manitoba. Canadian Mineralogist: 29: 543-552.

Kroll, H. and Knitter, R. (1991) Al, Si exchange kinetics in sanidine and anorthoclase and modeling of rock cooling paths. American Mineralogist: 76: 928-941.

Widder, W. (1991) Röntgentopographische Untersuchungen am Sanidin von Volkesfeld und Orthoklas von Madagaskar. Diplomarbeit an der Fakultät für Physik, Universität Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Widder, W., Wondratscher, H., Fehlmann, M., and Klapper, H. (1994) X-ray topographic study of Eifel sanidine (Volkesfeld). Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 209: 206-209.

Mineralogical Record (1995): 26: 222.

Kimata, M., Saito, S., Shimizu, M., Iida, I., and Tomoaki, M. (1996) Low-temperature crystal structures of orthoclase and sanidine. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 171: 199-213.

Mineralien Welt (1999): 10(6): 40-44.

Ginibre, C., Wörner, G., and Kronz, A. (2004) Structure and dynamics of the Laacher See magma chamber (Eifel, Germany) from major and trace element zoning in sanidine: a cathodoluminescence and electron microprobe study. Journal of Petrology: 45: 2197-2224.

Internet Links for Sanidine

Search Engines:
  • Look for Sanidine on Google
  • Look for Sanidine images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Sanidine on Webmineral
  • Look for Sanidine on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Sanidine on Wikipedia
  • Look for Sanidine on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Sanidine details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Buy minerals from YourMineralCollection
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
  • webminerals
  • Sanidine specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Sanidine specimens
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Minerals from Darwin Natural History
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
    • Specimens:The following Sanidine specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
    Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Sanidine

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Show Locality List (488 Items)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 20th May 2013 04:11:04
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds
    New Locality Added: Lägern (Otelfingen; Boppelsen), Limmattal, Zürich, SwitzerlandFrom Richard Muster, 19th Jun 2013 20:38:43