anorthoclase

[an-awr-thuh-kleys, -kleyz]

noun

Mineralogy.

1. a variety of microcline, rich in sodium and sometimes having a play of color: sometimes considered a variety of orthoclase.

anorthoclase

1. A white to colorless triclinic mineral of the alkali feldspar group. It is a common constituent in the matrices of slightly alkaline volcanic rocks. Chemical formula: (Na,K)AlSi ₃ O ₈ .

Word History and Origins

Origin of anorthoclase¹

an- ¹ + orthoclase

Example Sentences

There are also placed in the anorthic class a potash-felspar called microcline, and a rare soda-potash-felspar known as anorthoclase.

From Project Gutenberg