bytownite

[ bahy-tou-nahyt ]

noun

1. a blue to dark-gray mineral near the anorthite end of the plagioclase feldspar group.

bytownite

/ bī-tou′nīt /

1. A bluish to dark gray triclinic mineral of the plagioclase feldspar group that contains a higher proportion of calcium than sodium. Bytownite occurs in alkaline igneous rocks. Chemical formula: (Ca,Na)(Si,Al) 4 O 8 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of bytownite¹

1865–70; named after Bytown (old name of Ottawa, Canada), where first found; -ite ¹

Example Sentences

These intermediate members are the lime-soda felspars known as oligoclase, andesine, labradorite and bytownite.

From Project Gutenberg

These consist of hornblende (dark green) and basic plagioclase felspar, labradorite and bytownite (grey or nearly white).

From Project Gutenberg

The felspar ranges from bytownite to oligoclase, being usually a variety of labradorite; orthoclase is scarce.

From Project Gutenberg

Isolated crystals of bytownite bounded by well-defined faces are unknown.

From Project Gutenberg