Cleavelandite
Variety NaAlSi3O8
About it
Thin, platy, white albite in curved sheaves, typical of gem pegmatites where it grows with tourmaline, lepidolite, and beryl. Named for American mineralogist Parker Cleaveland.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Albite variety (feldspar)
- Formula
- NaAlSi3O8
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6–6.5
- Specific gravity
- 2.6–2.65
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), pearly
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Colours
- white, bluish white, colourless
- Transparency
- translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in one direction, good in another at about 86°
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.