Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Albite

Big Photo

East Highgate, Franklin Co., Vermont, USA
© 2002 John H. Betts

Show Albite Photos (192)
Formula:
Na[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
System:TriclinicColour:White, bluish, grey, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6 - 6½
Name:From Latin, albus, white, alluding to its usual color.


Feldspar Group.

Na-rich end member of the Albite-Anorthite Series.

Low- and high-temperature structural modifications exist.

Classification of Albite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.07-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FA.35

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
Dana 7th edition ID:76.1.3.1
Dana 8th edition ID:76.1.3.1

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
1 : Al-Si Framework with Al-Si frameworks
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.2.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
2 : Aluminosilicates of Na
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-96.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Albite

Type Locality:Finnbo (Finbo), Falun, Dalarna, Sweden
Year of Discovery:1815

Occurrences of Albite

Geological Setting:Major constituent of igneous rocks, hydrothermal and alpine veins. Product of sodium metasomatism.

Physical Properties of Albite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Translucent on thin edges
Comment:Pearly on cleavages
Colour:White, bluish, grey, pink, etc.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 6½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
on [001], good on [010], imperfect on {110}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.6 - 2.65 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.615(6) g/cm3

Crystallography of Albite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Cell Parameters:a = 8.16Å, b = 12.87Å, c = 7.11Å
α = 93.45°, β = 116.4°, γ = 90.28°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.634 : 1 : 0.552
Unit Cell Volume:V 667.19 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Tabular
Twinning:Polysynthetic, many twin laws.
Comment:High and low forms
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Albite no.78 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Albite no.80 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Albite no.256 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Albite no.267 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Albite no.309 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Albite - {110}, {010}, {1-11}, modified

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.
Structure
  Reference
Gualtieri A F (2000) Accuracy of XRPD QPA using the combined Rietveld-RIR method Locality: Baveno, Novara, Italy. Journal of Applied Crystallography 33:267-278.

Show
Unit Cell | Structure | Polyhedra

Style
Black Background | White Background

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Label Atoms | Off

More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Albite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.528 - 1.533 nβ = 1.532 - 1.537 nγ = 1.538 - 1.542
2V:Measured: 45° , Calculated: 76° to 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r < v weak
Comments:Biaxial - for high variety.

Chemical Properties of Albite

Formula:
Na[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
Essential elements:Al, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ca,K,Mg

Relationship of Albite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Anorthite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.FA.IMA2007-049
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.05Kaliophilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Kalsilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Nepheline
(Na,K)[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Panunzite
(Na,K)[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Trikalsilite
(Na,K)[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
(LiAl)
 
0.6
Si
 
2.4
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
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Microcline
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Orthoclase
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Sanidine
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Rubicline
(Rb,K)[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Kokchetavite
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Monalbite
Na[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Andesine
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Anorthite
Ca[Al
 
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.35Lingunite
(Na,Ca)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.40Paracelsian
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.45Svyatoslavite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
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
Ca[BSiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.FA.65Maleevite
BaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.65Pekovite
SrB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.2.2Analcime
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.2.3Ussingite
Na
 
2
AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
OH
16.2.4Paragonite
NaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.2.5Natrolite
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.2.6Tetranatrolite
16.2.7Paranatrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·3H
 
2
O
16.2.8Ephesite
NaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.2.9Rectorite
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
16.2.10Jadeite
Na(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.2.11Brammallite
Na
 
0.65
Al
 
2.0
ٱAl
 
0.65
Si
 
3.35
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Albite

Synonyms:
Acid plagioclaseAnalbite (of Alling)CryptoclaseCryptoseHyposclerite
KieselspathNatro-FeldspatOlafiteSodaclaseSoda Feldspar
TetartineWhite FeldsparZygadite
German names:
AlbitHyposcleritOlafitZygadit
Japanese names:
曹長石
Russian names:
Альбит
Spanish names:
AlbitaHyposcleritaOlafitaZygadita
Varieties:
Albite MoonstoneAndesineCleavelanditeGermanium-albiteHigh Albite
Lazur-FeldspathLow AlbiteOligoclaseOligoclase-AlbiteOregon Sunstone
PericlinePeristeriteSunstone

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 Albite

Reference List:Rose. G. (1823): Über den Feldspat, Albit, Labradorit und Anorthit, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Vol. 73/NF-43, 175-208.

Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1911), Krystallographische Notizen ueber Albit, Phenakit, und Neptunit: Zeitschr. Kristallographie, Band 48: 550-558; …USGS Bull. 490: 53-56 (1911).

MacKenzie, W.S. (1957) The crystalline modifications of NaAlSi3O8 American Journal of Science: 255: 481-516.

Ferguson, R.B., R.J. Trail & W.H. Taylor (1958), The crystal structure of low-temperature and high-temperature albites: Acta Crystallographica: 11: 331-348.

Smith, J.V. and MacKenzie, W.S. (1958) Alkali feldspars. IV. The cooling history of high-temperature sodium-rich feldspars. American Mineralogist: 43: 872-889.

Williams, P.P. and Megaw, H.D. (1964) The crystal structure of low and high albites at -180°C. Acta Crystallographica: 17: 882-890.

Crawford, W.A. (1966), Optical properties of metamorphic albite: American Mineralogist: 51: 523-524.

Martin, R.F. (1969) The hydrothermal synthesis of low albite. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 23: 323-339.

MacKenzie, W.S. and J. Zussman, Eds., The Feldspars (1974). Manchester University Press, U.K.

Moore, D. E. & J.G. Liou (1979), Chessboard-twinned albite from Franciscan metaconglomerates of the Diablo Range, California: American Mineralogist: 64: 329-336.

Sebastian, A. and Lagache, M. (1990) Experimental study of the equilibrium between pollucite, albite, and hydrothermal fluid in pegamtite systems. Mineralogical Magazine: 54: 447-454.

Knoche, R., Dingwell, D.B., and Webb, S.L. (1992a) Non-linear temperature dependence of liquid volumes in the system albite-anorthite-diopside. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 111: 61-73.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1995) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume II. Silica, Silicates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 904pp., 2 sub-volumes: 13.

Benusa, M.T., R.J. Angel & N.L. Ross (2005), Compression of albite, NaAlSi3O8: American Mineralogist: 90: 1115-1120.

Internet Links for Albite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Albite on Google
  • Look for Albite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Albite on Webmineral
  • Look for Albite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Albite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Albite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Albite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Albite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Search for Albite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Albite

    Show Locality List (3044 Items)
    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mineral Specimens available here.