Albite Vs. Anorthoclase

Albite is a popular mineral composed of sodium aluminum silicate.^[1] Anorthoclase is also a popular mineral and its chemical composition is sodium potassium aluminium silicate.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Albite and Anorthoclase

For a quick recap of the differences albite and anorthoclase:

• For chemical formulas, albite is NaAlSi3O8 while anorthoclase can be (Na or K)AlSi3O8.
• While both albite and anorthoclase can be vitreous, in terms of luster, albite can be pearly.
• While both albite and anorthoclase can be commonly green or red, albite is often blue and anorthoclase is often cream, white or yellow.
• Albite's rarity is less rare than anorthoclase.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Albite and Anorthoclase

The similarities of albite and anorthoclase include:

• Albite and anorthoclase both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
• In terms of crystallography, albite and anorthoclase both are triclinic.
• Albite and anorthoclase both streak white.
• Albite's specific gravity overlaps with anorthoclase - albite ranges from 2.57 to 2.69 and anorthoclase ranges from 2.5 to 2.6.

Summary of Albite

Albite is a mineral that belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group. It is a white or colorless mineral that is commonly found in igneous rocks. Albite has a hardness of 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity of 2.62-2.65. It is a common mineral in the Earth's crust, and can be found in many different types of rocks, including granite, syenite, andesite, and basalt.

Summary of Anorthoclase

Anorthoclase is a mineral that belongs to the feldspar group. It is a rare mineral that is found in igneous rocks such as granite, syenite, and nepheline syenite. Anorthoclase is often confused with orthoclase, another feldspar mineral, due to their similar appearance and properties. However, anorthoclase has a higher sodium content and a different crystal structure compared to orthoclase.

Table Comparison of Albite vs Anorthoclase