Alkali Feldspar
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Alkali Feldspar
Synonym of:
Age distribution
Recorded ages:
Phanerozoic : 180 Ma to 14.5 ± 0.4 Ma - based on 8 recorded ages.
Other Language Names for Alkali Feldspar
Norwegian:Alkalifeltspat
Kalinatronfeltspat
Kalinatronfeltspat
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 14 photos of Alkali Feldspar associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Alkali Feldspar associated with Lamprophyllite | (Na,Mn2+)3(Sr,Na)2(Ti,Fe3+)3(Si2O7)2O2(OH,O,F)2 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Alkali Feldspar in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
- Igneous rock
- Normal crystalline igneous rock
- Coarse-grained ("plutonic") crystalline igneous rock
- Fine-grained ("volcanic") normal crystalline igneous rock
- Exotic crystalline igneous rock
- Pegmatite
- Normal crystalline igneous rock
- Metamorphic rock
References for Alkali Feldspar
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Smith, J.V. and MacKenzie, W.S. (1958) Alkali feldspars. IV. The cooling history of high-temperature sodium-rich feldspars. American Mineralogist: 43: 872-889.
Yund, R.A. (1974) Coherent exsolution in the alkali feldspars. In A.W. Hofmann, B.J. Giletti, H.S. Yoder, Jr., R.A. Yund, Eds., Geochemical Transport and Kinetics. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication 634: 173-183.
Yund, R.A. and Tullis, J. (1983) Subsolidus phase relations in the alkali feldspars with emphasis on coherent phases. In P.H. Ribbe, Ed., Feldspar Mineralogy, 2: 141-176. Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, Virginia.
Yund, R.A. (1984) Alkali feldspar exsolution: kinetics and dependence on alkali interdiffusion. In: Feldspars and Feldspathoids: Structure, Properties and Occurrences (W.L. Brown, ed.) NATO Adv. Study Inst. Ser. C 137. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, The Netherlands (281-315).
Fleet, M.E. (1986) Lattice theory and transformation twinning in alkali feldspar. Canadian Mineralogist: 24: 615-623.
Su, Shu-Chun, Ribbe, P.H., and Bloss, F.D. (1986) Alkali feldspars: structural state determined from composition and optic axial angle 2V. American Mineralogist: 71: 1285-1296.
Hovis, G.L. (1988) Enthalpies and volumes related to K-Na mixing and Al-Si order/disorder in alkali feldspars. Journal of Petrology: 29: 731-763.
Parsons, I., Rex, D.C., Guise, P., and Halliday, A.N. (1988) Argon-loss by alkali feldspars. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 52: 1097-1112.
Worden, R.H., Walker, F.D.L., Parsons, I., and Brown, W.L. (1990) Development of microporosity, diffusion channels and deuteric coarsening in perthitic alkali feldspars. Contributions to Mineralogy and petrology: 104: 507-515.
Evangelakakis, C., Kroll, H., Voll, G., Wenk, H.-R., Meisheng, H., and Kopcke, J. (1993) Low-temperature coherent exsolution in alkali feldspars fro high-grade metamorphic rocks of Sri Lanka. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 114: 519-532.
Waldron, K.A., Lee, M.R., and Parsons, I. (1994) The microstructure of perthitic alkali feldspars revealed by hydrofluoric acid etching. Contributions to Mineralogy and petrology: 116: 360-364.
Lee, M.R. and Parsons, I. (1995) Microtextural controls of weathering of perthitic alkali feldspars. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 59: 4465-4488.
Walker, F.D.L., Lee, M.R., and Parsons, I. (1995) Micropores and micropermeable texture in alkali feldspars: geochemical and geophysical implications. Mineralogical Magazine: 59: 505-534.
Kontak, D.J., Martin, R.F., and Richard, L. (1996) Patterns in phosphorus enrichment in alkali feldspar, South Mountain batholith, Nova Scotia, Canada. European Journal of Mineralogy: 8: 805-824.
Lee, M.R. and Parsons, I. (1997) Compositional and microtextural zoning in alkali feldspars from the Shap granite and its geochemical implications. Journal of the Geological Society of London: 154: 183-188.
Lee, M.R. and Parsons, I. (1997) Dislocation formation and albitization in alkali feldspars from the Shap granite. American Mineralogist: 82: 557-570.
Lee, M.R., Hodson, M.E., and Parsons, I. (1998) The role of intragranular microtextures and microstructures in chemical and mechanical weathering: direct comparison of experimentally and naturally weathered alkali feldspars. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 62: 2771-2788.
Parsons, I., Brown, W.L., and Smith, J.V. (1999) 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology using alkali feldspars: real thermal history or mathematical mirage of microtexture Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 136: 92-110.
Visocekas, R. and Zink, A. (1999) Use of the far infrared TL emission band of alkali feldspars for dosimetry and dating. Quaternary Sci. Rev.: 18: 271-278.
Parsons, I., Thompson, P., Lee, M.R., and Cayzer, N. (2005) Alkali feldspar microtextures as provenance indicators in siliciclastic rocks and their role in feldspar dissolution during transport and diagenesis. Journal of Sedimentary Research: 75: 921-942.
Fitz Gerald, J.D., Parsons, I., and Cayzer, N. (2006) Nanotunnels and pull-aparts: defects of exsolution lamellae in alkali feldspars. American Mineralogist: 91: 772-783.
Internet Links for Alkali Feldspar
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-118.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Mineral Dealers:
Significant localities for Alkali Feldspar
Showing 42 significant localities out of 10,840 recorded on mindat.org.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Afghanistan | |
| [Orthoclase] RWMW Collection |
Antarctica | |
| [Anorthoclase] http://tea.rice.edu/jroberts/12.13.1999.html; Dov Bahat (1979) Anorthoclase Megacrysts: Physical Conditions of Formation. Mineralogical Magazine 43:287-291; Kammerer, M. M. (2011). Nature and origin of salt deposits around the crater of Erebus volcano, Antarctica (Master dissertation, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology). |
Austria | |
| [Orthoclase] G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995 |
| [Microcline] R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993) |
Canada | |
| [Sanidine] Dave Joyce personal collection |
| [Orthoclase] Age of the Cabonga nepheline syenite, Grenville Province, western Quebec Hudon, Pierre; Friedman, Richard M.; Gauthier, Gilles; Martignole, Jacques Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 43, issue 9, pp. 1237-1249 Olivier Langelier Collection; Hudon, P., Friedman, R.M., Gauthier, G. & Martignole, J. (2006) Age of the Cabonga nepheline syenite, Grenville Province, western Quebec. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 43(9), 1237-1249. |
Ethiopia | |
| [Microcline var: Amazonite] Kaiser, H. (2006): Amazonit aus Äthiopien-Kristalle injutesäcken. ExtraLapis 30: 72-73 |
France | |
| [Microcline] F. Gonnard (1906) - Minéralogie des départements du Rhône et de la Loire, pp: 6 & 36 |
| [Orthoclase] Favreau G., Legris J-R., Dardillac M. (1996), La Verrière (Rhône): Histoire et Minéralogie, Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, n°3, pp:3-28 |
| [Microcline] Pierrot, R., Chauris, L., and Laforêt, C. (1975) Inventaire minéralogique de la France. Ed. BRGM, n°5, Côtes du Nord, 150-153. |
Germany | |
| [Sanidine] Nose, K.W. (1808) in Nöggerath, J., Mineralogische Studien über die Gebirge am Niederrhein..., Frankfurt.; Krul, H. (1969) Geologische zwerftochten. N.V. W.J. Thieme & Cie - Zutphen, Netherlands, 161 pp. (in Dutch). |
Italy | |
| [Anorthoclase] [Foerstner] Förstner H. (1877): Ueber die Natronorthoklas von Pantelleria. Zeits. Kryst. Min., 1, 1, 547-561; Foerstner E. [H.] (1881): Nota preliminare sulla geologia dell'isola di Pantelleria secondo gli studi fatti negli anni 1874 e 1881. Boll. R. Comit. Geol. Ital., 12, 523-556;[Foerstner] Förstner H. (1884): Ueber die Feldspäthe von Pantelleria. Zeits. Kryst. Min., 8, 1, 125-202; Foerstner H. (1884): Ueber künstliche physikalische Veränderungen der Feldspäthe von Pantelleria. Zeits. Kryst. Min., 9, 1, 333-352; Rosenbusch H. (1885): Mikroschopische Physiographie der Mineralien und Gesteine. Ein Hülfsbuch bei mikroskopischen Gesteinsstudien. Band I. Die petrographisch wichtigen Mineralien. Zweite gänzlich umgearbeitete Auflage. E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagshandlung (E. Koch), Stuttgart, 664 pp.; Bahat D. (1979): Anorthoclase megacrysts: physical conditions of formation. Mineralogical Magazine, 43, 287-291; Civetta L., D’Antonio M., Orsi G., Tilton G.R. (1998): The geochemistry of volcanic rocks from Pantelleria Island, Sicily Channel: petrogenesis and characteristics of the mantle source region. Journ. Petrology, 1453-1491. |
| [Orthoclase] Barsotti, G., & Nannoni, R. (2006). Rocce, minerali e miniere delle isole dell'Arcipelago Toscano. Pacini editore, 152 pp. |
| [Orthoclase] Barsotti, G., & Nannoni, R. (2006). Rocce, minerali e miniere delle isole dell'Arcipelago Toscano. Pacini editore, 152 pp. | |
| [Orthoclase] |
Madagascar | |
| [Sanidine] Ackermann, S., Kunz, M., Armruster, T., Schefer, J. & Hanni, H. (2005): Cation distribution in a Fe-bearing K-feldspar from Itrongay, Madagascar. A combined neutron- and x -ray single crystal diffraction study. Lawrence Berkeley National Labroatory- http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/20f968sx http://www.mindat.org/mesg-7-219075.html |
Namibia | |
| [Microcline] Peter Seroka collection. Bezing, L. von, Bode, R. & Jahn, S. (2008): Namibia Minerals and Localities. Edition Schloss Freudenstein, Bode Verlag GmbH, Haltern: 270 (in English) |
Norway | |
| [Microcline] Breithaupt, A. (1830): Ueber die Felsite und einige neue Specien ihres Geschlechts. Journal für Chemie und Physik, 60: 316-330 |
| [Microcline var: Amazonite] Neumann, H. (1960): Mineral occurrences in southern Norway. Guide to excursions no A.15 and no. C 12. International Geological Congress XXI session Norden 1960, 18p.; Revheim, O. (2015):Mikroklin fra Landsverk 1, Evje. Stein 42 (4), 14-16 Werner, R. (2017) Evje Mineralsti - Landsverk Quarries. Setesdalsmuseet/Aust-Agder museum and archive. 36 pp. |
| [Microcline] Breithaupt, A. (1830): Ueber die Felsite und einige neue Specien ihres Geschlechts. Journal für Chemie und Physik, 60: 316-330; Larsen, K. E. (2015): Mikroklin- et mineral førstegangsbeskrevet fra Norge. Stein 42 (4), 9-11. |
Russia | |
| [Microcline var: Amazonite] Lunts, A.Ya. [Лунц, А.Я] (1972) Mineralogy, geochemistry and origin of the rare-earth pegmatites of alkaline granites, north-western USSR [Минералогия, геохимия и генезис редкоземельных пегматитов щелочных гранитов Северо-Запада СССР]. Nedra [Недра], Moscow, 176 pp. (in Russian). |
Switzerland | |
| [Microcline var: Hyalophane] Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 217-218; American Mineralogist 68, 112 (1983) |
USA | |
| [Microcline var: Amazonite] Jordi Fabre |
| [Microcline var: Amazonite] Specimen from Joe Dorris collection exhibited at Tucson show 2008; Joseph Dorris (2015) Amazomite and Smoky Quartz Mining on the Smoky Hawk Claim, Teller County, Colorado. 36th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium pp. 11-12.; Joseph Dorris (2016) Amazonite and Smoky Quartz Pegmatites of the Smoky Hawk Trend, Teller County, Colorado. in Second Eugene E. Foord Pegmatite Symposium July 15-19, 2016 Colorado School of Mines campus, Golden, Colorado |
| [Microcline] W.C. van Laer: field notes, 1977; Yale Peabody Museum collection |
| [Microcline] Januzzi, Ronald E. and David Seaman. (1976), Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State and Pegmatite Minerals of the World. The Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut. |
| [Microcline] Schooner, Richard. (1958), The Mineralogy of the Portland-East Hampton-Middletown-Haddam Area in Connecticut (With a few notes on Glastonbury and Marlborough). Published by Richard Schooner; Ralph Lieser of Pappy’s Beryl Shop, East Hampton; and Howard Pate of Fluorescent House, Branford, Connecticut.; Schooner, Richard. (circa 1980s), Untitled manuscript on central Connecticut mineralogy. |
| [Microcline] Williams, Horace S. (circa 1945): Article for New York Society of Mineralogists. Brainerd Public Library, Haddam, Connecticut.; Ryerson, Kathleen. (1972): Rock Hound's Guide to Connecticut. Pequot Press.; Webster, Bud. (1978): Mineral Collector’s Field Guide Connecticut. |
| [Microcline] Davis, James W. (1901): The Minerals of Haddam, Conn. Mineral Collector, v. 8, no. 4, pp. 50-54, and no. 5, pp. 65-70.; Mineralogical Magazine 1902 13 : 97-121.; Cameron, Eugene N. and others. (1954) PEGMATITE INVESTIGATIONS 1942-45 NEW ENGLAND. U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 255; Scovil, Jeffrey A. (1992): Famous Mineral Localities: the Gillette Quarry, Haddam Neck, Connecticut. (Mineralogical Record, 23(1):19-28.); Stugard, Frederick, Jr. (1958) PEGMATITES OF THE MIDDLETOWN AREA, CONNECTICUT. USGS Bulletin 1042-Q. |
| [Microcline] Harold Moritz collection | |
| [Microcline var: Amazonite] Weber, Marcelle H. and Earle C. Sullivan. (1995): Connecticut Mineral Locality Index. Rocks & Minerals (Connecticut Issue): 70(6): 403 | |
| [Microcline var: Hyalophane] Schooner, Richard. (circa 1980s), Untitled manuscript on central Connecticut minerals. | |
| [Microcline] Ted Johnson Collection |
| [Microcline] Barry Heath and Frank Perham; King, V. (ed.), 2009, Maine feldspar, Families, and Feuds. |
| [Microcline] P Cristofono collection , 2009 |
| [Sanidine] Ray Lasmanis |
| [Microcline] Peters, et al: The Minerals of the Buckwheat Dolomite, Franklin, NJ: Mineralogical Record:14:183-194; Dunn(1995):Pt4:510. |
| [Microcline] Palache(1935):16 & 60; Dunn(1995):Pt1:133. | |
| [Microcline] Gordon, Mineralogy of Pennsylvania, 1922 p. 190 |
| [Microcline] Self-collected by Franklin Roberts.; Arthur Smith, Frank Roberts, Denise Bicknell (2008) Mineral News, 24, #1, 6-7. |
Lohning quarry, Rauris, Zell am See District, Salzburg, Austria