Appearance
Albite is mostly colorless but can occasionally be reddish, pink, yellow, or gray. Sometimes green tinted translucent albite is caused by chromium jadeite. It is a part of trapiche emeralds as well. There are occasionally rare instances of translucent albite with bright green inclusions of jadeite high in chromium.
Geographical Distribution
Several nations worldwide, including South Africa, Madagascar, Brazil, USA, Austria, Canada, Kenya, and the Scandinavian Peninsula, are home to albite deposits.
Albite is a widely dispersed white feldspar that is frequently found in pegmatites, spillites, syenites, rhyolites, and granites. Often found with other uncommon minerals, albite is the last of the feldspars to crystallize from molten rock.
History
The Latin word “albus,” which means “white,” is the source of the name Albite. This alludes to albite’s usual color, which is either white or colorless. The German mineralogist Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt gave the mineral its name for the first time in 1815 and identified it as a feldspar variety.
One of the most prevalent groups of minerals on Earth is the feldspar group, which includes albite. The German word “Féldspat,” which means “fieldstone,” is the source of the group name feldspar.
Metaphysical Properties
Albite stones are milky white in color, with some having faint blue or yellow flashes. When it is carved into semi-precious gemstones, it is particularly dazzling. It is thought to support emotional equilibrium and mental clarity. In addition, it can support general health and wellbeing and facilitate spiritual development.
Chemical Composition
All of the oxygens in an albite are shared by the three SiO4 and one AlO4 tetrahedra that make up its networked structure. Larger gaps in the structure are filled with Na+, which balances the remaining negative charge. The ratio of silicon to oxygen is 1:2.
Types
Among the most prevalent kinds are:
Sodium Albite
This is the most prevalent variety and the one that is commonly called “Albite.” It is a member of the triclinic crystal system and has the chemical formula NaAlSi3O8.
Oligoclase
The crystal structure of this kind includes trace quantities of calcium. It is a member of the triclinic crystal system and has the chemical formula (Na, Ca)Al1-2Si3-2O8.
Andesine
The crystal structure of this kind includes trace quantities of calcium and sodium. It is a member of the triclinic crystal system and has the chemical formula (Na, Ca)Al1-2Si3-2O8.
Labradorite
This kind has a unique iridescent or labradorescence appearance due to its higher calcium and other trace element content. It is a member of the triclinic crystal system and has the chemical formula (Ca, Na)(Al, Si)4O8.
Peristerite
The crystal structure of this kind includes trace levels of potassium and sodium. It is a member of the triclinic crystal system and has the chemical formula (Na, K)AlSi3O8.
Uses
Although it is semiprecious, albite is used as a gemstone. Geologists also employ albite since they recognise it as a crucial mineral that forms rocks. The mineral is used in several industrial processes, including in the production of ceramics and glass.
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