AMAZONITE ON ALBITE, PARK COUNTY, COLORADO, USA (small cabinet)

ALBITE

Amazonite, often referred to as amazonstone, is a green tectosilicate mineral classified as a variety of potassium feldspar known as microcline. The formula represents its chemical composition KAlSi3O8, which is polymorphic with orthoclase. The Amazon River lent its name to the mineral because people historically sourced green stones there, though it remains uncertain if those stones were indeed amazonite. Despite its use in jewelry for over three millennia, evidenced by archaeological discoveries in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, any ancient or medieval sources did not document it. The mineral was formally recognized as distinct only in the 18th century.

Albite is a type of plagioclase feldspar mineral, specifically the sodium endmember of the plagioclase solid solution series, characterized by having less than 10% anorthite content. The chemical formula for pure albite is NaAlSi3O8, and it falls under the category of tectosilicates. Typically, albite appears in a pure white color, which is reflected in its name derived from the Latin word "albus." This mineral is frequently found in felsic rocks.