Anorthite vs Feldspar
Anorthite and Feldspar belong to the same mineral group and differ on 1 measured property — density most clearly.
Anorthite vs Feldspar
Anorthite
CaAl2Si2O8
The calcium end of the plagioclase series — the first feldspar to crystallise from a cooling basalt, and a major constituent of the lunar highlands.
Feldspar
The most abundant mineral group in the Earth's crust — about six parts in ten of it, and the parent of most clay.
| Property | Anorthite | Feldspar |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal system Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | triclinic | Not known |
| Density | 2.72–2.76 g/cm³ higher | 2.55–2.76 g/cm³ |
| Lustre Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | vitreous | Not known |
| Mohs hardness Mohs hardness is an ordinal scale: values can be ranked, but differences and ratios between them are not meaningful. | 6–6.5 | 6–6.5 |
| Streak Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | white | Not known |