a colourless, milky-white, yellow, pink, green, or black mineral of the feldspar group and plagioclase series, found in igneous sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. It is used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. Composition: sodium aluminium silicate. Formula: NaALSi3O8. Crystal structure: triclinic
Derived forms
albitic (ælˈbɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Latin albus white
albite in American English
(ˈælˌbaɪt)
noun
a usually milky white variety of plagioclase, NaAlSi3O8, found in various plutonic rocks, esp. granite and syenite, often with twin crystals