Andesine specimens for sale

1 for sale ยท $150 USD

Andesine is a feldspar mineral with a structure that fits into the plagioclase subgroup. It typically forms pale to pinkish or peach-colored crystals and can exhibit a glassy to sub-optimally vitreous luster. Crystals are commonly tabular to elongated prisms, and in hand specimens the color can range from off-white to warm orange-hued tones, reflecting trace substitutions of calcium and sodium within the crystal lattice.

Formula
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Rarity
Common
Stability
Stable
Collector interest
Moderate Interest
Classification notes
Feldspar (tectosilicate); framework silicate; plagioclase series

Key characteristics

Crystal system
triclinic
Mohs hardness
6โ€“6.5
Specific gravity
2.65โ€“2.69
Luster
vitreous, pearly
Transparency
transparent, translucent
Color
white, gray, yellow, green, red, pink
Streak
white
Cleavage
perfect
Fracture
uneven, conchoidal
Crystal habit
tabular, prismatic, granular, massive
  • Gem mineral

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About Andesine

Japan is a noted locality for fine andesine specimens, where hydrothermal and igneous environments contribute to well-formed crystals that attract collectors. Internationally, andesine can be found in other pegmatites and metamorphic settings, but the Japanese material is particularly prized for its clarity and color consistency. Collectors value these crystals for their subtle hues and the way they can be paired with related feldspars to illustrate solid-solution trends within the plagioclase series. Andesine shows how trace element chemistry translates into visible variation, making each specimen a quiet study in mineral chemistry as well as a mineralogical delight.