Provenite

About Albite

NaAlSi₃O₈

The sodium end member of the plagioclase feldspars and one of the commonest rock-forming minerals. Collectors know it mostly as white, platy to bladed cleavelandite that forms the matrix of gem tourmaline, beryl, topaz and garnet in granite pegmatites; clear single crystals are rare.

Show 21 localities on the map

Photos of Albite

Transparent topaz with quartz nestled in crystallized cleavelandite, Dassu.
Albite · Dassu (Dusso)
Transparent topaz with quartz nestled in crystallized cleavelandite, Dassu.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Blue indicolite tourmaline with stibiotantalite and albite from the Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field.
Albite · Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field
Blue indicolite tourmaline with stibiotantalite and albite from the Darra-i-Pech pegmatite field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pale blue gem aquamarine on white crystallized albite from the Shigar Valley.
Albite · Shigar Valley
Pale blue gem aquamarine on white crystallized albite from the Shigar Valley.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Doubly terminated yellow-green brazilianite crystals on albite, Telírio claim, Linópolis.
Albite · Linópolis
Doubly terminated yellow-green brazilianite crystals on albite, Telírio claim, Linópolis.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Large schorl group with a spessartine crystal on white albite and quartz matrix from the Little Three Mine.
Albite · Little Three Mine
Large schorl group with a spessartine crystal on white albite and quartz matrix from the Little Three Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Twinned microcline with white cleavelandite albite and purple lepidolite, Himalaya Mine.
Albite · Himalaya Mine
Twinned microcline with white cleavelandite albite and purple lepidolite, Himalaya Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Goshenite with schorl on albite from the Cryo-Genie Mine.
Albite · Cryo-Genie Mine (Lost Valley Truck Trail Mine)
Goshenite with schorl on albite from the Cryo-Genie Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Thick schorl crystals with gemmy quartz and white albite blades, Pala Chief Mine.
Albite · Pala Chief Mine
Thick schorl crystals with gemmy quartz and white albite blades, Pala Chief Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Where Albite is found (21)

Afghanistan

Brazil

Canada

Pakistan

United States

Albite on the same specimen with other minerals

Same specimen Albite with Quartz at Papachacra

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show quartz with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Quartz at Little Three Mine

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show quartz with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Quartz at Conway (Redstone area), Carroll County

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show quartz with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Quartz at Berilo Branco claim

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show quartz with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Microcline at Kenticha mine

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Microcline at Lake George (Park County)

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Microcline at Pikes Peak

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Microcline at Papachacra

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Microcline at Florissant area (Teller County)

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show microcline with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Albite with Beryl at Mt Xuebaoding (Pingwu)

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show beryl with albite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Identity

Also called
Cleavelandite (bladed variety); low albite; high albite
Group
Feldspar Group
Strunz
9.FA.35 · 9 Silicates
IMA status
Grandfathered
Name origin
From Latin albus (white), after its usual colour.
Elements
Na, Al, Si, O

Physical properties

Color
White to grey, bluish, greenish or reddish; may be chatoyant
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous luster
Transparency
Variable
Mohs hardness
6–6.5
Density
2.6–2.65 g/cm³
Cleavage / fracture
Perfect cleavage on {001}, very good on {010}, imperfect on {110}; fracture uneven to conchoidal; brittle
Magnetism / fluorescence
Some specimens fluoresce: white in longwave UV and red to bluish in shortwave UV

Crystallography

Crystal system
Triclinic
Space group
C-1
Structure
Feldspar framework of linked SiO4 and AlO4 tetrahedra with Na in the cavities; an ordered low-temperature form (low albite) and a disordered high-temperature form (high albite) are recognised.
Typical habit
Tabular crystals flattened on {010}, sometimes curved, usually to about 3 cm; divergent and bladed aggregates (cleavelandite), granular or cleavable masses
Twinning
Very common polysynthetic twinning on the albite law ({010}), giving fine striations on {001} or {010}; many other laws, simple and multiple
Optical data
Biaxial (+) for low albite, (-) for high albite; nα = 1.526-1.530, nβ = 1.531-1.533, nγ = 1.534-1.541; 2V about 85-90° (low) or 52-54° (high); weak dispersion r < v

Formation and use

Formation
Major constituent of granites and granite pegmatites, alkalic diorites and basalts; also in hydrothermal and alpine veins, low-grade metamorphic rocks and schists, and as detrital or authigenic grains in sedimentary rocks.

Related minerals

Related minerals
Microclineorthoclase

Sources

  1. SRC-523 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - AlbiteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2001 · Mineral Data Publishing / Mineralogical Society of America
  2. SRC-524 · Database
    Albite Mineral DataBarthelmy, D. · Webmineral.com
  3. SRC-538 · Website
    File:Albite-Quartz-Spessartine-ck3a.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.