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  • Feldspar Minerals: Understanding the Group and Key Types
    Feldspar is not a single mineral, but a group of minerals. There is no single scientific name for "feldspar".

    The term "feldspar" is a general name for a group of rock-forming tectosilicate minerals that make up about 60% of the Earth's crust. The most common feldspars are:

    * Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)

    * Albite (NaAlSi3O8)

    * Anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8)

    These are just the end members of a solid solution series. There are also many other feldspars, including:

    * Sanidine (KAlSi3O8)

    * Microcline (KAlSi3O8)

    * Oligoclase (NaAlSi3O8 - CaAl2Si2O8)

    * Labradorite (NaAlSi3O8 - CaAl2Si2O8)

    * Bytownite (NaAlSi3O8 - CaAl2Si2O8)

    So, while there is no single scientific name for "feldspar", there are specific names for the different types of feldspar minerals.

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