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feldspar |
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feldsparAny of a group of silicate minerals. Feldspars are the most abundant mineral type in the Earth's crust. They are the chief constituents of igneous rock and are present in most metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. All feldspars contain silicon, aluminium, and oxygen, linked together to form a framework. Spaces within this framework structure are occupied by sodium, potassium, calcium, or occasionally barium, in various proportions. Feldspars form white, grey, or pink crystals and rank 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. The four extreme compositions of feldspar are represented by the minerals orthoclase, KAlSi3O8; albite, NaAlSi3O8; anorthite, CaAl2Si2O8; and celsian, BaAl2Si2O8. Plagioclase feldspars contain variable amounts of sodium (as in albite) and calcium (as in anorthite) with a negligible potassium content. Alkali feldspars (including orthoclase) have a high potassium content, less sodium, and little calcium.
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| Other minerals in the stone are feldspar, quartz and hornblende, which give the stone a light-green tone from different views. Avalon is now focusing on producing a lithium feldspar product. Imerys named Michael Yarborough vice president and general manager for Kentucky-Tennessee Clay, KT Feldspar and K-T Clay de Mexico. |
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