feldspathoid

feldspathoid, any of a group of alkali aluminosilicate minerals similar to the feldspars in chemical composition but either having a lower silica-alkali ratio or containing chloride, sulfide, sulfate, or carbonate. They are considered to be the specific minerals of igneous rocks usually termed alkalic, which is the designation applied to igneous rocks whose alkali content (i.e., amount of sodium [Na] and/or potassium [K]) exceeds the amount required by the available silica to form one or more feldspars plus or minus mica. Minerals of the feldspathoid group whose silica contents are less than those of their feldspar analogues include nephelin, leucite, sodalite, and cancrinite.

Chemical composition and crystal structure

The feldspathoid group minerals are sodium, potassium, and calcium aluminosilicates, many of which resemble the feldspars in appearance. Like the feldspars, they have framework structures that consist of silica and alumina tetrahedrons. Unlike the feldspars, however, the arrangements of the tetrahedrons differ from species to species, and the interstices may contain water and/or other simple or complex anions such as chlorine (Cl^-), carbonate (CO2-/3), or sulfate (SO2-/4), as well as sodium, potassium, and calcium. Consequently, different feldspathoids have somewhat different structures: some are isometric, others are hexagonal, and still others are tetragonal. Chemical formulas and crystal-system data for a few of the feldspathoids are given in the Click Here to see full-size tableTable.

Physical properties

The physical properties of the various feldspathoids differ from those of the feldspars and from one another. Properties of nepheline, leucite, sodalite, and cancrinite are summarized below.

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(Bed) Rocks and (Flint) Stones

Nepheline (hardness [H] 51/2–6, specific gravity [G] 2.56–2.67) typically occurs as irregularly shaped, white, gray, or brownish, greasy- to waxy-appearing grains that may exhibit one rather poor cleavage. Simple hexagonal prisms occur as phenocrysts in some volcanic porphyries. On weathered exposures, nepheline grains are commonly weathered more than their associated minerals, thus leaving, for example, feldspar grains of nepheline syenites in relief. A simple test often used to help identify nepheline is based on the fact that it, as well as sodalite and cancrinite, reacts with acids to form gelatinous silica.

Leucite (H 51/2–6, G 2.47–2.50) commonly occurs as white to light gray trapezohedrons. The crystal form represents the formation of leucite as an isometric mineral. However, the mineral can be shown to be tetragonal by methods such as optical studies. The crystal form of leucite indicates the conditions under which it was crystallized, and the tetragonal structure shows that it has undergone post-crystallization inversion.

Sodalite (H 51/2–6, G 2.27–2.50) consists of a group of minerals. Different species of this group may exhibit different colours. The sodalite of most rocks occurs as irregularly shaped, translucent, bluish-coloured grains with a vitreous to greasy lustre.

Cancrinite (H 5–6, G 2.32–2.51) typically occurs as yellowish grains, some of which exhibit one perfect cleavage, that are closely associated with one or more of the other feldspathoids, most commonly nepheline.

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Origin and occurrence

The feldspathoids are relatively rare. As noted previously, they are considered here primarily because they are the specific minerals used in naming alkalic igneous rocks. In this role, the feldspathoids, along with minerals of the melilite group, are referred to as foids in the IUGS classification of igneous rocks. Feldspathoids may occur along with feldspars in igneous rocks. They do not occur in igneous rocks containing original free silica—i.e., in rocks that contain quartz of the same generation. They are, in fact, incompatible with consanguineous quartz (that derived from the same parent magma), as is quite apparent from the following equations:

As can be seen from these equations, a feldspar would form in lieu of its feldspathoid chemical analogue in any silica-saturated magma.

Nepheline is the most common feldspathoid; it is a major constituent of many alkalic igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites. Feldspathoids also occur in a few other kinds of rocks—e.g., contact-metamorphic skarns.

Uses

Nepheline is sometimes used as a source of soda, silica, and alumina in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. Leucite was formerly used in Italy for fertilizer. Sodalite, once treasured as the basic ingredient of ultramarine pigment, is still used as a gemstone and as the desired constituent of many of the blue rocks used as facing stones.