Where is Feldspar found?
Feldspar
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Open the appFeldspar occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Feldspar
Worldwide
Feldspar is the most abundant mineral group in the Earth's crust, found on every continent. Major commercial deposits are found in the USA (North Carolina, California), Canada, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Germany, India, China, and Brazil.
Pegmatites
Large, well-formed feldspar crystals are often found in pegmatite dikes, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks.
Granitic Intrusions
Feldspar is a primary component of granites and related felsic igneous rocks.
Collecting tips
- Look for Cleavage. Even in tumbled specimens, the characteristic two-directional cleavage of feldspar can often be observed as internal reflections or subtle linear features on the polished surface. This helps distinguish it from quartz, which lacks cleavage.
- Check for Striations. Plagioclase feldspars often exhibit fine parallel striations (albite twinning lamellae) on one of their cleavage surfaces. This is a definitive characteristic for plagioclase.
- Assess Hardness. Feldspar has a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5. It will scratch glass but can be scratched by quartz. This can help differentiate it from softer minerals.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (white, pink, green, gray, etc.)
- Luster:
- Vitreous to pearly
- Streak:
- White
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