Albite stone belongs to silicate group feldspars and is considered one of the most widespread igneous minerals (pegmatites) of the rock-forming type. This mineral is an aluminosilicate and belongs to the plagioclase subgroup.
The mineral owes its name to its color – in Latin albus means white. The stone was first described in 1815 in Sweden by scientists Johann Gottlieb Hahn and Jon Jakob Berzelius. At the end of the 19th century, the Russian geologist and geochemist Alexander Fersman, who carried out detailed studies of this mineral, drew attention to albite, the properties of which had been little studied. On the coast of the White Sea, he found an interesting variety of this stone, which has iridescence from gray-blue to blue-violet, and named it belomorite.
Another famous variety of this stone is peristerite, which is named so for its unique iridescence of bluish-blue color, similar to the ebb of pigeon feathers.
Albit has synonyms – white feldspar, white sherl, albiclase or amazonite-plakio-eyed.
Physical and chemical properties of albite
The physical and chemical properties of albite are well studied:
- Color – from colorless to white and gray-blue;
- Luster – glass;
- Transparency – translucent or transparent;
- The color of the line is white;
- Mohs hardness – 6 – 6.5;
- Density 2.6-2.65 g / cm3;
- Fracture – uneven, conchial;
- The system is primitive (triclinic);
- Form – tabular and lamellar crystals. Sometimes it can be found in the form of twin crystals, polysynthetic twins or radiant fan-shaped rosettes;
- Crystals have a framework lattice with a continuous three-dimensional framework;
- The symmetry class is pinacoidal;
- Cleavage is perfect for {001} and average for {010};
- Decomposes to HF with release of gelatinous SiO2;
- Accompanying minerals – vodzhinite, struverite, muscovite, orthoclase and others;
- Similar minerals: peristerite, olikoglaz.
The chemical formula of albite is Na [AlSi3O8]. Often the composition includes impurities of chromium, lead, potassium, calcium and magnesium, due to which the color spectrum of the crystal can vary from white to blue, green and even yellow.
The mineral is hardly soluble in acids – only hydrofluoric acid can successfully dissolve it. It also melts weakly.
Distribution of albite
Like other minerals from the plagioclase subgroup, the stone is widespread throughout the globe, but at the same time it is practically not found in its pure form. In fact, the entire group of plakio-eyed minerals is a mixture of albite and anorite. Therefore, in 95% of cases, albite occurs as inclusions or inclusions in other minerals. By the way, it is thanks to the thinnest albite ingrowths that the iridescence effect appears in the adularia. The photo shows an example of the location of albite as an accompanying mineral in the parent rock.
As mentioned above, albite belongs to rock-forming minerals and is distributed almost everywhere. Deposits are distinguished depending on the purpose for which this mineral is mined. Since its value in terms of jewelry is rather low, most of the production is carried out for the ceramic industry. Albite is also used to create refractory and finishing materials.
Beautiful transparent crystals, which are suitable for cutting and are used in jewelry production and creation of collections, are not mined everywhere. There are a number of deposits in Africa: Zimbabwe, Kenya, Madagascar, but here production is carried out in an almost artisanal way – as elsewhere on the Black Continent. In America, large mines are located in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Virginia (USA), as well as near Ottawa (Canada). In Russia, the mineral albite is mined in the Irkutsk region, not far from Nizhny Tagil, in the Western Keivy (Kola Peninsula), in the southern Transbaikalia in the area of the Malkhansky ridge. In the north of Norway and the Eastern Pamirs, large stones with the iridescent effect are mined, and in Bintal (Switzerland) and the Brazilian Minas Gerais – almost pure crystals of a very large form.
Application of albite
Massifs weighing at least 5-10 carats are subject to faceting. The most common and practically the only type of cut is the cabochon. Cut stones are used in the manufacture of bijouterie (bracelets and beads), as jewelry and finishing materials. A significant part of the cut stones is intended for collectors. The latter also prefer natural druses, in which albite crystals form unique structures with other minerals such as hematite, quartz or orthoclase.
The price for albite differs depending on whether it is a raw material or a cut stone. If we take massifs where crystals are generously diluted with other minerals, then the cost of 1 kg does not exceed an average of $ 2-8. But cut stones are valued much higher – a transparent crystal weighing 3-5 carats will cost $ 10-15 – this is due to the fact that such large stones are relatively rare. But sometimes very large specimens are also found – in Ukraine, a pure tabular crystal of albite was found with a height of almost 20 cm.
The medicinal properties of albite
Although the stone is not considered precious or semi-precious, it is used in folk medicine. The medicinal properties of albite are considered lower than those of precious “pure” stones, but, nevertheless, it is used for diseases of the organs of internal secretion and the gastric tract: liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas and stomach. Unlike other stones, it does not need to be worn all the time to achieve a healing effect – you just need to apply the stone to the organ that is bothering you and lie down for a while. In general, it is recommended to carry out such a procedure in a horizontal, relaxed position, and best of all – during rest or an hour’s sleep. To use the stone again, it is recommended after the procedure to put it under running cold water for a few minutes – this way everything bad will come out of the stone,
The magical properties of albite
Among practising magicians, albite is considered a conductor of solar and lunar energy, therefore it is widely used as a means to relieve stress, nervousness and tension. Those people who react very sharply to emotional or any external stimuli should carry an amulet with this stone, or better with two – the talisman will give the necessary patience and extinguish negative emotions in the bud. Also, the stone is suitable for travellers in order to ward off danger from them.
The stone belongs to the water element, and the magical properties of albite are associated with the lunar cycle of ebb and flow, symbolizing the infinity of life. Albite can be used to normalize your emotional state and achieve harmony and balance in it.