Test Website - You are connected to the test webserver. To return to the live website, click here

Albite

Big Photo

Oligoclase
Kenya
1.59 carats
© Rarestone.com

Albite is a plagioclase feldspar consisting of 90% or more of sodium-rich molecule.
The name Albite derives from Latin - albus, because its colour is usually pure white.

Albite Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Albite Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Albite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:1.01 cts
Heaviest:3.82 cts
Average:2.15 cts
Total photos:15
Do you have a larger Albite? Why not upload a photo?
1.01ct to 1.29ct1.29ct to 1.57ct1.57ct to 1.85ct1.85ct to 2.13ct2.13ct to 2.42ct2.42ct to 2.70ct2.70ct to 2.98ct2.98ct to 3.26ct3.26ct to 3.54ct3.54ct to 3.82ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Feldspar
Varieties/Types:
Andesine - A plagioclase feldspar with an Albite: Anorthite molar ratio ranging from 50:50 to 70:30.
Oligoclase - A plagioclase feldspar with an Albite: Anorthite molar ratio ranging from 90:10 to 70:30.
Chemical Formula
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Albite Treatments
Irradiation may turn colourless material blue if lead and water impurities are present (see amazonite).
Physical Properties of Albite
Mohs Hardness6 to 6.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
More from other references
Specific Gravity2.61 to 2.62
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
TenacityBrittle
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Cleavage QualityPerfect
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) Perfect to excellent
FractureUneven,Conchoidal
Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Refractive Index1.529 to 1.542
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Optical CharacterBiaxial/+
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Birefringence0.009
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Dispersion
Fatal error: Uncaught mysqli_sql_exception: Illegal mix of collations (latin1_swedish_ci,IMPLICIT) and (utf8mb3_uca1400_ai_ci,COERCIBLE) for operation '=' in /big/var/www/gemdat/gemshow_class.php:690 Stack trace: #0 /big/var/www/gemdat/gemshow_class.php(690): mysqli->query() #1 /big/var/www/gemdat/gemshow_class.php(505): gemshow_class->showdata() #2 /big/var/www/gemdat/gemshow_class.php(1469): gemshow_class->showblock() #3 /big/var/www/gemdat/gshow.php(151): gemshow_class->do_optical() #4 {main} thrown in /big/var/www/gemdat/gemshow_class.php on line 690