AllMineralsRock
Albite Vs. Sanidine
Albite is a popular mineral composed of sodium aluminum silicate.[1] Sanidine is also a popular mineral and its chemical composition is potassium aluminum silicate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Albite and Sanidine
For a quick recap of the differences albite and sanidine:- While both albite and sanidine can be translucent or transparent, albite can be opaque.
- In terms of crystallography, albite is triclinic while sanidine is monoclinic.
- For chemical formulas, albite is NaAlSi3O8 while sanidine is KAlSi3O8.
- Albite can be commonly blue, green or red while sanidine is often brown or white.
- Albite's rarity is less rare than sanidine.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Albite and Sanidine
The similarities of albite and sanidine include:- In terms of luster, albite and sanidine both can be pearly or vitreous.
- Albite and sanidine both streak white.
- Albite's hardness is similar to sanidine - they both range from 6 to 6.5 on the Moh's scale.
- Albite's specific gravity overlaps with sanidine - albite ranges from 2.57 to 2.69 and sanidine ranges from 2.57 to 2.58.
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 Sanidine
Sanidine is a mineral that belongs to the feldspar group, which is a group of minerals that are commonly found in igneous rocks. It is a potassium-rich alkali feldspar with a chemical composition of KAlSi3O8. Sanidine is a high-temperature form of potassium feldspar, which crystallizes at temperatures above 900°C. It is usually colorless or white, but it can also be gray, yellow, or pink. The mineral has a glassy luster and a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale. Sanidine is often confused with other feldspars such as orthoclase and microcline, but it can be distinguished from them by its high-temperature crystal structure.Table Comparison of Albite vs Sanidine
| Albite (src) | Sanidine (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent |
| Chemical Formula | NaAlSi3O8 | KAlSi3O8 |
| Chemical Composition | sodium aluminum silicate | potassium aluminum silicate |
| Specific Gravity | 2.57, 2.69 | 2.57, 2.58 |
| Hardness | 6, 6.5 | 6, 6.5 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | triclinic | monoclinic |
| Refractive Index | 1.527, 1.544 | 1.516, 1.526 |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: red, blue, green sometimes: brown, yellow less common: gray, pale, pink, cream, white, colorless |
common: brown, white sometimes: gray, cream, yellow, colorless |
| Category | plagioclase | feldspar |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.010 | δ = 0.007 |
| Fracture | conchoidal, subconchoidal, uneven | conchoidal, splintery, uneven |