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Twinning results when different parts of the crystal break their isometric symmetry along a different choice of axis. This is typically polysynthetic twinning, which enables the crystal to maintain its isometric shape by averaging out the displacement in each direction. This produces a pseudomorphic crystal that appears to have isometric symmetry.
Albite is a plagioclase feldspar mineral. It is the sodium endmember of the plagioclase solid solution series. It represents a plagioclase with less than 10% anorthite content. The pure albite endmember has the formula Na Al Si 3 O 8. It is a tectosilicate. Its color is usually pure white, hence its name from Latin, albus. [5]
The series ranges from albite to anorthite endmembers (with respective compositions NaAlSi 3 O 8 to CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8), where sodium and calcium atoms can substitute for each other in the mineral's crystal lattice structure. Plagioclase in hand samples is often identified by its polysynthetic crystal twinning or "record-groove" effect.
Microcline (cross-hatched twinning) included in magnetite (black, opaque) in plagioclase (polysynthetic twinning). Therefore, the sequence of formation is: microcline → magnetite → plagioclase. Peak porphyroblasts: A garnet-mica schist with porphyroblastic garnet (black) in fine-grained mica matrix: Retrograde (Post-peak) reaction rims
Grains are commonly elongate with a tabular appearance. May contain lamellae which formed from exsolved albite. Twinning: Typically displays albite twinning and pericline twinning. This combination leads to a grid pattern, hence microcline displays gridiron twinning. Can also display carlsbad twinning, simple twins, or lack twinning altogether ...
The side of the diagram between calcite and sillimanite has a point added for anorthite (calcium feldspar), corresponding to an equal mixture (by mole percentage) of the two components. This forms pure anorthite. Likewise, points are added for clinopyroxene and garnet and the diagram is divided into subtriangles, as depicted in the accompanying ...
Pericline is a form of albite exhibiting elongate prismatic crystals. [1] Pericline twinning is a type of crystal twinning which show fine parallel twin laminae typically found in the alkali feldspars microcline. [2] The twinning results from a structural transformation between high temperature and low temperature forms. [3]
Anorthite crystals (white) in lava from Miyake Island, Japan (size: 2.4 × 1.7 × 1.7 cm) Anorthite is the calcium-rich endmember of the plagioclase solid solution series, the other endmember being albite (NaAlSi 3 O 8).