microcline

[ mahy-kruh-klahyn ]

noun

1. a mineral of the feldspar group, potassium aluminum silicate, KAlSi 3 O 8 , identical in composition with orthoclase but having triclinic instead of monoclinic crystals, used in making porcelain.

microcline

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌklaɪn /

noun

1. a white, creamy yellow, red, or green mineral of the feldspar group, found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks: used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. Composition: potassium aluminium silicate. Formula: KAlSi 3 O 8 . Crystal structure: triclinic

microcline

/ mī′krō-klīn′ /

1. A white, pink, red-brown, or green type of potassium feldspar. It is dimorphous with orthoclase feldspar, differing from it in shape and in the fact that it forms at lower temperatures. Chemical formula: KAlSi 3 O 8 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of microcline¹

1840–50; micro- + -cline < Greek klī́nein to lean ¹, referring to the angles between its cleavage planes, which differ slightly from 90°

Word History and Origins

Origin of microcline¹

C19: from German Mikroklin, from mikro- micro- + Greek klinein to lean; so called because its cleavage plane is slightly different from 90°

Example Sentences

At Danbury the mineral occurs with microcline and oligoclase embedded in dolomite.

From Project Gutenberg

Last come orthoclase, quartz, microcline and micropegmatite, which fill up the irregular spaces left between the earlier minerals.

From Project Gutenberg

These larger felspars have no crystalline outlines and consist of orthoclase or microcline surrounded by borders of white oligoclase.

From Project Gutenberg

The felspar of the granulites is mostly orthoclase or cryptoperthite; microcline, oligoclase and albite are also common.

From Project Gutenberg

There are also placed in the anorthic class a potash-felspar called microcline, and a rare soda-potash-felspar known as anorthoclase.

From Project Gutenberg