Bytownite Archives - Cochise College Geology

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Chemical Group: Silicate (plagioclase feldspar)

Chemical Formula: Bytownite is a mid-composition plagioclase feldspar. Bytownite ranges from 30% to 10% NaAlSi₃O₈and 70% to 90%CaAl₂Si₂O₈.

Color: White, gray, reddish, greenish, yellowish, brown, colorless

Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Streak: Uncolored Luster: Vitreous, pearly Tenacity: Brittle

Hardness: 5 to 6 Specific Gravity: 2.60 to 2.75

Fracture: Uneven to conchoidal

Cleavage: (001) perfect and (010) slightly less

Crystal Forms: Triclinic system. Crystals prismatic. Commonly shows polysynthetic (plagioclase) twinning.

Mineral habits: Massive, granular, coarse lamellar

Mineral Associations: Igneous rocks

Identifying Characteristics: Plagioclase twinning

Toxicity: When-swallowed: moderate When-inhaled: high

Additional Information: Bytownite was named after the old name for Ottawa in Canada.

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