_Composition_: NaAlSi₃O₈, 50% to 30%; CaAl₂Si₂O₈, 50% to 70%. _Crystal
system_: triclinic. _Hardness_: 6.0 to 6.5. _Specific gravity_: about
2.60. _Luster_: vitreous to sometimes pearly. _Color_: straw yellow,
white, greenish, gray, reddish, bluish, and green. Sometimes shows a
play of colors on particular cleavage surfaces. _Streak_: uncolored.
_Cleavage_: three directions. _Fracture_: uneven to conchoidal.
_Tenacity_: brittle. _Diaphaneity_: transparent to translucent.
_Refractive index_: about 1.56. _Dispersion_: low.
Very fine facet-quality labradorite has been found about 20 miles south
of Alpine, Brewster County. The labradorite occurs loose in the soil as
slightly weathered or frosted cleavage fragments, commonly showing one
or more crystal faces (Pl. II, B). The pale-yellow or straw-yellow color
of these fragments, as well as their lack of internal imperfections,
makes these stones excellent gem material. Individual pieces that exceed
three-fourths inch in their longest dimensions are rare. Cut stones of
more than 5 or 6 carats from this locality are scarce. The source of
this material is uncertain, but it is probably weathering out of an
underlying igneous rock.
Microcline
_Composition_: KAlSi₃O₈. _Crystal system_: triclinic. _Hardness_: 6.0
to 6.5. _Specific gravity_: 2.54 to 2.57. _Luster_: vitreous to
pearly. _Color_: white, pale yellow, red, blue green, bluish.
_Streak_: white. _Cleavage_: four directions, usually three of these
distinct. _Fracture_: uneven. _Tenacity_: brittle _Diaphaneity_:
transparent to translucent. _Refractive index_: about 1.52 to 1.53.
Very fine crystals of blue microcline have been found east of Packsaddle
Mountain and near Kingsland in Llano County. Crystals exceeding 1 foot
in length have been found, although most are only a few inches long. The
color of the microcline is mostly pale blue, but some crystals are
darker. Microcline crystals associated with milky or vein quartz, smoky
quartz, some biotite, and rarely cassiterite occur in pegmatite dikes
which vary in size from a few inches to several feet in thickness. The
color of this microcline is pale in comparison to microcline from some
other localities in the United States, but the Texas blue microcline
does yield pleasing cabochons. Perfect crystals of this material are
prized by collectors. Blue or greenish microcline is often called
amazonite or amazon stone.
Bluish microcline associated with quartz and topaz has also been
reported near Katemcy, Mason County.
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