About Sanidine
A high-temperature polymorph of potassium feldspar, often colorless and glassy. It's associated with mental clarity, insight, and promoting a positive, decisive outlook.
Primary Hues
Colorless, White, Grey, Yellowish, Pinkish, often transparent to translucent, forms tabular or prismatic crystals
Geological & Scientific Details
Sanidine is classified as a tectosilicate minerals, feldspar group, alkali series mineral which typically crystallizes in the monoclinic system. Its chemical formula is K(AlSi3O8). Common crystal habits include tabular crystals, may be acicular.
Key Geological Properties:
- Mineral Category: Tectosilicate minerals, feldspar group, alkali series
- Chemical Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
- IMA Symbol: Sa[1]
- Crystal System: Monoclinic
- Predominant Geological Color: Colorless to white
- Crystal Habit: Tabular crystals, may be acicular
- Twinning: Carlsbad twinning common
- Cleavage: {001} perfect, {010} good
- Luster: Vitreous, pearly on cleavage
- Streak: White
- Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent
Associated Minerals
- Feldspar
- Orthoclase
- Microcline
- Plagioclase
- Quartz
- Biotite
- Hornblende
- Leucite
- Nepheline