ALBITE

Physical properties

Habit: blocky, striated, granular.
Color: white, gray, greenish gray, bluish green, or gray.
Diaphaneity: transparent to translucent.
Luster: vitreous (i.e., glassy).
Cleavage: (001) perfect, (010) good.
Twinning: Albite [010], Pericline [010].
Fracture: uneven.
Streak: white.
Occurrence: magmatic and pegmatitic rocks.

The Uses of ALBITE

Albite is used in Ceramic tiles, white ware, glazes, glass, porcelain enamel frits, ceramics, filler, welding electrodes, and abrasives .

Agricultural Uses

Albite is a white or bluish-white feldspar of the plagioclase feldspar group and it belongs to the triclinic system. It has a general formula Na (AlSi₃O₈). Albite occurs frequently as a late stage mineral associated with gem pocket, bearing lithium-rich pegmatites. The plate variety of albite is called cleave landsite.
Albite and anorthite are components in the complex plagioclase series. At high pressure, albite breaks down to jadeite (NaAlSi₂O₆) and quartz (SiO₂).