felspar
1
9.9
A hard mineral that often appears as shiny grains in rocks
- noun
- /ˈfɛlspɑr/
- Archaic
:
feldespato
- Some geologists study the properties of felspar to understand rock formation.
Examples
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The shiny particles in the rock are actually bits of felspar.
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The rock sample contained a significant amount of felspar.
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Granite is mainly composed of quartz and felspar.
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Many felspars are used in ceramics and glassmaking.
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Geologists often study felspar to understand the composition of igneous rocks.
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The sparkling mineral felspar can be found in many granitic formations.
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Many pottery glazes include felspar as a key ingredient for durability.
Synonyms
3
9.0
A hard mineral found in many rocks like granite
is an older alternative spelling for the same rock-forming minerals
How Hard
Surface Forms
Etymology
Felspar comes from German parts Fels meaning 'rock' and spar a name for minerals that break into flat, shiny pieces. So, felspar is easy to remember as the common hard mineral that makes up much of many rocks (often spelled feldspar).