Feldspathoid

FeldspathoidsMinerals occurring in low-Si terrestrial rocks, feldspathoids are similar to feldspars in structure and properties, but contain about two-thirds as much silica as alkali feldspar. They do not coexist with quartz, because the excess of SiO2 converts feldspathoids into feldspar. The most common feldspathoids are: nepheline, NaAlSiO4, falsilite, KAlSiO4, and leucite, KAlSi2O6. Their compositions can be displayed using a tetrahedron with quartz at the apex (below). The ranges of observed substitutions are shown by the colored fields.


Some or all content above used with permission from J. H. Wittke.


This entry was posted in . Bookmark the permalink.