AllMineralsRock
Anorthoclase Vs. Microcline
Anorthoclase is a popular mineral composed of sodium potassium aluminium silicate.[1] Microcline is also a popular mineral and its chemical composition is potassium aluminum silicate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Anorthoclase and Microcline
For a quick recap of the differences anorthoclase and microcline:- While both anorthoclase and microcline can be opaque or translucent, anorthoclase can be transparent.
- For chemical formulas, anorthoclase can be (Na or K)AlSi3O8 while microcline is KAlSi3O8.
- While both anorthoclase and microcline can be commonly green or yellow, anorthoclase is often cream, red or white and microcline can be commonly blue, brown or pink.
- Anorthoclase's rarity is more rare than microcline.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Anorthoclase and Microcline
The similarities of anorthoclase and microcline include:- In terms of crystallography, anorthoclase and microcline both are triclinic.
- In terms of luster, anorthoclase and microcline both are vitreous.
- Anorthoclase and microcline both streak white.
- Anorthoclase's specific gravity overlaps with microcline - anorthoclase ranges from 2.5 to 2.6 and microcline ranges from 2.54 to 2.58.
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.Summary of Microcline
Microcline is a mineral that belongs to the feldspar group of minerals, which is one of the most common minerals on Earth. It is a potassium-rich mineral that is typically found in igneous rocks, and it forms as a result of the crystallization of magma. Microcline is typically white, pink, or yellow in color, and it has a hardness of 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale. It is also notable for its distinctive cleavage, which is visible as a series of parallel lines on its surface.Table Comparison of Anorthoclase vs Microcline
| Anorthoclase (src) | Microcline (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | (Na,K)AlSi3O8 | KAlSi3O8 |
| Chemical Composition | sodium potassium aluminium silicate | potassium aluminum silicate |
| Specific Gravity | 2.5, 2.6 | 2.54, 2.58 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | triclinic | triclinic |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: red, cream, green, white, yellow sometimes: gray, pale, pink, black, brown, colorless |
common: green, blue, brown, yellow, pink less common: tan, cream, white, orange, gray, multicolor |
| Category | feldspar | tektosilicates |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.008 | δ = 0.007 |
| Fracture | conchoidal, uneven | conchoidal, splintery, uneven |