SEMINAR TOPIC ON
1. INTRODUCTION.
2. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION.
3. CLASSIFICATION.
4. ATOMIC STRUCTURE.
5. CHEMISTRY.
6. MODES OF OCCURRENCE.
7. DISTINGUISH FEATURES.
8. VARIETIES.
9. TEXTURAL OCCURRENCE.
10. USES.
•The feldspar are the most important group of rock forming mineral (light
colour) constiting about 2/3rd of the igneous rock and are used for the
classification of such rocks.
•They are alumina silicate of K,Na,Ca or Ba and may be consider as
isomorphous compounds of the four substance listed below, the first three
of these being of the greatest importance, while the fourth is rare.
These are
1. Orthoclase(or) potassium aluminium silicate K[AlSi2O8]
2. Albite (Ab) sodium aluminium silicate Na[AlSi2O8]
3. Anorthite(An) calcium aluminium silicate Ca[Al2Si2O8]
4. Celsian(Ce); Barium aluminium silicate;Ba[Na2/Al2Si2O8]
The general formula for the feldspar can be written as
WAl(Al,Si) Si2O8.
Where, W = Na ,K,Ca,& Ba
Here Si: Al ratio varying from 3:1-1:1
The feldspar group of mineral can be broadly classified
into 3 isomorphous series
•ALKALI FELDSPAR SERIES
•BARIUM FELDSPARS
PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPAR SERIES (TRICLINIC SYSTEM)
•ALKALI FELDSPHAR SERIES
They are classified into four types on the basis of their optical
properties. The alkali feldspars are as follows:
•orthoclase (monoclinic),— KAlSi3O8
•microcline (triclinic)— KAlSi3O8
•anorthoclase (triclinic) — (Na,K)AlSi3O8
Sanidine is stable at the highest temperatures, and microcline at
the lowest.Perthite is a typical texture in alkali feldspar, due to
exsolution of contrasting alkali feldspar compositions during
cooling of an intermediate composition. The perthitic textures in
the alkali feldspars of many granites can be seen with the naked
eye. Microperthitic textures in crystals are visible using a light
microscope, whereas cryptoperthitic textures can only be seen
using an electron microscope.
•sanidine (monoclinic) —(K,Na)AlSi3O8
Alkali Feldspar: Miscibility gap
Because of dissimilarity in size between the Na+1 (0.95 Å) and K+1
(1.33 Å) complete solid solution occurs only at high temp.
In orthoclase series the solid solution in more limited on extent and
the phase separation occur triclinic member of the High Alibite series
are called Anorthoclase.
PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPHAR SERIES
The plagioclase feldspars are triclinic. The plagioclase series
follows (with percent anorthite in parentheses):
All the above mineral crystallized in triclinic system
•The plagioclase feldspars are triclinic.
•The plagioclase series follows (with percent anorthite in parentheses):
Intermediate compositions of plagioclase feldspar also may exsolve to two
feldspars of contrasting composition during cooling.
•However, diffusion is much slower than in alkali feldspar, and the
resulting two-feldspar intergrowths typically are too fine-grained to be
visible with optical microscopes.
• The immiscibility gaps in the plagioclase solid solution are complex
compared to the gap in the alkali feldspars.
•The play of colors visible in some feldspar of labradorite composition is
due to very fine-grained exsolution lamellae.
•BARIUM FELDSPARS
The barium feldspars are monoclinic and comprise the
following:
•celsian — BaAl2Si2O8
•hyalophane — (K,Na,Ba)(Al,Si)4O8
Feldspars can form clay minerals through chemical weathering.
The number of feldspar group belongs to teckto silicate structure. The
structure of feldspar is a continuous three dimensional network of
SiO4 and AnO4 tetrahedra with the positive charge Na,K,Ba,Ca
actuated in the interstices of negatively charged network. Hence, each
Tetrahedron is linked by all four corners so that every oxygen atom is
shared between two tetrahedron. This gives Si: O = 1:2, So it is
derivative of SiO2 structures by in corporation of Al into the
tetrahedron network when Si+4 is replaced by Al+3 .
The most common Si : Al are 1:1 or 3:1,which correspond AlSi3O8
respectively.The cations that balances the negative charge on these
formula units are ,with coordination no. 8 or greater. Hence the
Tecktosilicates are Aluminosilicates of Na,K,Ca or Ba
•The alkali feldspar are essentially a series varying from
Orthoclase to Albite but normally it also content same amount
of Anorthite in solid solution .
•The amount of Anorthite present in fairly small ,generally as
less than 5%.So Feldspar can be consider as a three component
system .
•The compound beings Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8), Albite
(CaAl2Si2O8).The complexities are introduced by both solid
solutions.
•Relation that exits among these three components and the
existence of polymorphic forms.
•Isomorphic substitution of one kind of alkalic metal for
another gives rise to the varieties of feldspars.
The Ba-feldsphar are very rare
•At temp above 600 OC,complete solid solution exists between
Anorthoclase and Albite
•But there is no solid solution between orthoclase and anorthite. Hence
feldspar intermediate these two do not exists.
•The system albite and anorthite completely exists as solid solution of
high temperature but there are complication at low temperature.
-:ALTERATION:-
•Orthoclase, Microcline and the series involving them are more
susceptible to alteration than Plagioclase.
•The alter to secondary mica (sericite), Keoline and cryptocrystalline
silica.
•The plagioclase in addition alter to calcite, epidote, zeolite etc.
ALKALI FELDSPHAR
•ALKALI FELDSPHAR IN IGNEOUS ROCK
Alkali feldspar are important constituent of acid and alkali
igneous rock and presentably found in syenite, granite and their
volcanic equivalent.
They also occur in pegmatite and many igneous
gneisses
-: In plutonic rocks Orthoclase is essentially present where as in
volcanic rocks sanidine is present.
-: pure alkali feldspar is never separated its range of
composition vary from Orthoclase -20 to orthoclase -47(Or20-
Or47)
-: Alkali feldspar in acid volcanic rocks are greater in potash
than feldspar of alkaline rocks.
•ALKALI FELDSPAR IN METAMORPHIC ROCKS
“K-Feldspar is stable product of high grade of thermal
metamorphism as well as in regional metamorphism”. It occurs in a
variety of thermally metamorphosed sediments including shales,
impure sand stones, Lime stones & Dolomites.
It is a typical minor in the sillimanite zone of regional
metamorphism.
In Precambrian granites and gneissose,K-Feldsphar is Microcline.
•ALKALI FELDSPAR IN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
K-Feldspar crystallized during the formation of sedimentary rocks
at a temp. Prevailing at the earth’s surface and at a moderate depth
in the crust. It is commonly in sandstones, silt stone, shales and
sediments.
-: Authogenic Feldspars (Feldspar which is formed in insitu) have
always a small, well rounded and pertain detrital cones.
PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPAR AND THEIR
OCCURRENCE
• In igneous rocks: Most common in Basalt; which may occur as
ground mass or phenocrystals.
-: Zonning in feldsphar in a common feature.
-: In plutonic rocks Anorthite is not at all a common
minerals but it has been reported in “Tractolite”.
-: In granite and granodiorite, Albite and Plagioclase are
common minerals.
In pegmatite Albite is common
In Dunite Andesine is common
In Gabbro Labrodorite is common
In Anorthosite Anorthite is common.
• In Metamorphic rocks
Albite is an essential constituent of metamorphic schist .In chlorite
and Biotite Zones of regional Metamorphism,Albite is a common product
.In Garnet and higher Zones Calcium content of plagioclase increases and
in Kyanite zone it is andesine.
• In sedimentary rocks
Plagioclase is a common authegenic mineral forming contemporeously
with sedimentary rocks as well as by replacement of detroidal precipited
material.
Alkali Feldspar distinguished from the members of plagioclase
by absence of lamellar twinning.
Orthoclase may be distinguished from sanidine and Orthoclase by
highest optic mass and presence of macro-perthite texture.
Orthoclase has cleavage angle 900 while it is less than 900 in
triclinic members.
1. SANIDINE: - A high temperature potassium feldspar. It is glassy
transparent tabular Orthoclase formed above 9000 c
2. ADULARIA:-Colorless crystalline orthoclase or low temperature
orthoclase’s
3. AMAZON STONE:-Bright green Microcline
4. AVENTURINE:- Albite showing reddish tone like
reflection (Gem variety of albite)
-: PERTHITE:-Intergrowth between orthoclase/microcline
and Albite or Oligoclase, but Albite patches found in
Microcline masses.
Thin section morphological view
-: GRAPHIC: Intergrowth between quartz and plagioclase Feldspar
-: MYRMEKITE: Intergrowth between quartz and Orthoclase Feldspar
1-Alkali- feldspar are used in manufacturing of porcelain,pottery,
opalascent,glass,blonder of abbratives,wheels etc.
2-Amazone stone and precious labrodorite are used as precious stone.
3-Alkali-feldspar are also used as attrasives.
