plagioclase

[ pley-jee-uh-kleys ]
/ ˈpleɪ dʒi əˌkleɪs /

noun

any of the feldspar minerals varying in composition from acidic albite, NaAlSi3O8, to basic anorthite, CaAl2Si2O8, found in most igneous rocks: shows twinning striations on good cleavage surfaces.
Also called soda-lime feldspar.

Origin of plagioclase

First recorded in 1865–70; plagio- + -clase

OTHER WORDS FROM plagioclase

pla·gi·o·clas·tic [pley-jee-uh-klas-tik] /ˌpleɪ dʒi əˈklæs tɪk/, adjective

Words nearby plagioclase

plagiarism, plagiarize, plagiary, plagio-, plagiocephaly, plagioclase, plagioclimax, plagiohedral, plagiotropic, plagiotropism, plague

Example sentences from the Web for plagioclase

British Dictionary definitions for plagioclase

plagioclase
/ (ˈpleɪdʒɪəʊˌkleɪz) /

noun

a series of feldspar minerals consisting of a mixture of sodium and calcium aluminium silicates in triclinic crystalline form: includes albite, oligoclase, and labradorite

Derived forms of plagioclase

plagioclastic (ˌpleɪdʒɪəʊˈklæstɪk), adjective

Scientific definitions for plagioclase

plagioclase
[ plā′jē-ə-klās′ ]

Any of a series of common feldspar minerals, consisting of differing mixtures of sodium and calcium aluminum silicates. Plagioclase is typically white, yellow, or reddish-gray, but it can also be blue to black. It occurs in igneous rocks. The minerals albite, oligoclase, andesine, labradorite, bytownite, and anorthite are all plagioclases. Chemical formula: (Na,Ca)Al(Si,Al)Si2O8.