16.10.01: Amazonite

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-NC-SA 2.5, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Amazonite
    Chemical composition Microcline feldspar
    Crystal system Triclinic
    Habit Massive
    Hardness 6-6.5
    Optic nature Biaxial -
    Refractive index 1.522-1.530
    Birefringence 0.008-0.010
    Dispersion Low
    Specific gravity 2.56
    Lustre Vitreous

    File:Amazonite xls.jpg

    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Microcline (aka Amazonite) with albite

    Amazonite is a tradename for microcline (K-feldspar) and has a green to blue-green color.

    Illustration

    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Amazonite Cabochons

    Microcline has the same chemical composition (KAlSi3O8) as orthoclase, but it grows as triclinic crystals opposed to the monoclinic orthoclase.

    Sources

    • Gems Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification 4th Edition (1990) - Robert Webster (6th ed.)
    • Gemstones of the world, 3rd rev and exp edition (2006) - Walter Schuman ISBN 1402740166

    This page titled 16.10.01: Amazonite was last modified on Fri, 06 May 2022 23:29:26 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by gemology via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.