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Alkali feldspar granite
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| Igneous rock | |
Alkali feldspar granite. Holocrystalline texture, coarse-grained. Great amounts of potassium feldspar (orthoclase, pink-reddish in colour) | |
| Composition | |
|---|---|
| Primary | Potassium feldspar, quartz |
| Secondary | Plagioclase; dark minerals |
Alkali feldspar granite, some varieties of which are called 'red granite',[1] is a felsic igneous rock and a type of granite rich in the mineral potassium feldspar (K-spar). It is a dense rock with a phaneritic texture. The abundance of K-spar gives the rock a predominant pink to reddish hue peppered with minor amounts of black minerals.[2][3]

Chemical composition
[edit]As shown in the QAPF diagram, alkali feldspar granite contains between 20% - 60% quartz. Less quartz content would lead to "quartz alkali feldspar syenite". More than 90% of the total feldspar content is in the form of alkali feldspar. Less than that amount would designate the rock as a granite.[4]

Other incorporated silicate minerals may include, very minor amounts of plagioclase feldspar, mica in the form of muscovite and/or biotite, and amphibole (often hornblende). Oxide minerals such as magnetite, ilmenite, or ulvospinel. Some sulfides and phosphates (mainly apatite) may also be present.
Occurrence
[edit]Alkali feldspar granites generally occur with other alkali-rich granitoids, such as monzogranite and syenogranite, forming part of the A-type granites. They are found in a wide range of tectonic settings and their origins remain uncertain.[5]
Uses
[edit]Granitic rocks in general are of interest to geologists, geochemists, etc., because they provide 'crystallized' telltale clues of their environment of formation.[6]
Alkali feldspar granite is used as construction material in the form of dimension stones, and polished slabs or tiles for building facades, pavements, and kitchen countertops.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ T. Nelson Dale (1908). "The Chief Commercial Granites of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island" (PDF). US Geological Survey.
- ^ "FAQ - What is Granite?". US Geological Survey.
- ^ a b "Granite: Characteristics, Uses and Problems". US General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 9 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Field Classification and Description of Soils and Rock" (PDF). US Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2012.
- ^ Bonin B. (2007). "A-type granites and related rocks: Evolution of a concept, problems and prospects" (PDF). Lithos. 97 (1–2): 1–29. doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2006.12.007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014.
- ^ "Granite and Granodiorite". US National Park Service.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Alkali feldspar granite at Wikimedia Commons
Alkali feldspar granite
View on GrokipediaDefinition and Classification
Definition
Alkali feldspar granite is a felsic plutonic igneous rock classified as a variety of granite, distinguished by its phaneritic texture—characterized by visible crystals typically ranging from medium to coarse-grained—and the predominance of alkali feldspar, which constitutes over 90% of the total feldspar content, with plagioclase comprising less than 10%. This composition aligns with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) criteria for granitic rocks, where the rock's essential minerals are quartz and alkali feldspar, and it occupies a specific field in the QAPF modal classification diagram.[1][5][6] The rock typically displays a distinctive pink to reddish hue, attributed to the abundant potassium-rich alkali feldspar, such as orthoclase or microcline, which imparts the color during crystallization. Essential minerals include quartz (20-60% by volume) and alkali feldspar, with the total feldspar content generally ranging from 40-80%, complemented by minor mafic minerals like biotite or hornblende. This mineral assemblage reflects its derivation from silica-rich magmas under conditions favoring alkali feldspar stability.[5] Alkali feldspar granite is often associated with A-type granites, formed in anorogenic settings, though its detailed petrogenesis involves specific magmatic processes covered elsewhere. The term highlights its distinction from other granites like monzogranite or syenogranite, emphasizing the near-exclusive dominance of alkali feldspar over plagioclase.[5]Classification
Alkali feldspar granite is classified within the IUGS scheme for plutonic rocks using the modal QAPF diagram, which plots the relative proportions of quartz (Q), alkali feldspar (A), plagioclase (P), and feldspathoids (F), normalized to 100% for these components when mafic minerals are less than 90% of the rock.[7] On this diagram, alkali feldspar granite falls in the field defined by 20-60% Q, 0-10% P, and A comprising more than 90% of the total feldspar (A + P), with F typically at 0-5% or absent.[8] This placement distinguishes it as a quartz-bearing, alkali feldspar-dominated granitic rock.[9] Within the broader IUGS classification of granitic rocks, alkali feldspar granite represents a subset of the granite group, characterized by its high alkali feldspar content and low plagioclase.[7] It is related to but distinct from syenogranite, which has alkali feldspar comprising 65-90% of total feldspar, particularly where the emphasis is on the transitional nature between granite and syenite due to elevated quartz relative to pure syenites.[10] The rock is differentiated from monzogranite, which occupies an adjacent field on the QAPF diagram with a more balanced ratio of alkali feldspar to plagioclase (typically 35-65% each of total feldspar) and similar quartz content of 20-60%.[9] In contrast, it differs from syenite, which has minimal quartz (<5%) and lacks the significant Q component, placing it outside the granite fields.[8] When modal mineral data are unavailable, chemical classification employs the CIPW norm, which calculates hypothetical mineral proportions from whole-rock oxide compositions to approximate the QAPF parameters and confirm the rock's granitic affinity.[11] This normative approach supports the identification of alkali feldspar granite by highlighting high normative orthoclase and quartz relative to plagioclase.[12]Petrology
Mineralogy
Alkali feldspar granite is dominated by alkali feldspar and quartz as its primary rock-forming minerals. Alkali feldspar, typically in the form of orthoclase or microcline, constitutes 35-90% of the rock and makes up more than 90% of the total feldspar content.[13] These feldspars often occur as large megacrysts, which can exhibit a perthitic texture resulting from subsolidus exsolution of sodic and potassic components during slow cooling.[14] Quartz forms 20-60% of the mineral assemblage and typically appears as anhedral grains intergrown with the feldspars.[13] Accessory minerals include minor amounts of plagioclase, which is limited to less than 10% of the total feldspar and is predominantly sodic (albite-rich, An₀-An₅).[13] Micas such as muscovite or biotite are present, contributing to the rock's color and providing insight into its potassium enrichment.[5] Amphiboles, including hornblende or sodic varieties like riebeckite in peralkaline subtypes, occur and are more common in mafic-leaning variants.[15] Opaque minerals, primarily magnetite and ilmenite, serve as indicators of its oxidation state.[5] Trace accessories such as apatite, zircon, and allanite are ubiquitous but minor and provide geochemical tracers for magmatic evolution without significantly altering the overall modal composition.[16] In varieties with very low mafic content (<10%), the rock may be termed alaskite, emphasizing the dominance of felsic phases.[13]Texture
Alkali feldspar granite displays a phaneritic texture, defined by its coarse-grained, crystalline fabric resulting from slow crystallization in intrusive settings, where individual mineral grains are visible to the naked eye. This texture typically features equigranular arrangements of minerals with average grain sizes of 2-5 mm, though variations include porphyritic forms where larger crystals dominate. In porphyritic varieties, alkali feldspar phenocrysts can reach up to 1 cm in length, embedded within a finer groundmass of similar composition, reflecting episodic crystallization during magma evolution.[17][18] A distinctive microstructural feature is the presence of graphic intergrowths, where quartz forms vermicular or rod-like inclusions within alkali feldspar, creating a eutectic-like pattern that indicates simultaneous late-stage crystallization of these phases. The overall fabric is holocrystalline and massive, with all components fully crystallized and lacking glassy remnants, which underscores the rock's plutonic origin. However, in tectonically deformed examples, subtle foliation may develop through alignment of mafic minerals or recrystallization, imparting a weak planar structure without altering the primary igneous character.[19][20][21] The low color index of alkali feldspar granite, ranging from 0-20% mafic minerals such as biotite or hornblende, contributes to its predominantly light-colored appearance, often pinkish or whitish due to the abundance of feldspar and quartz. This leucocratic nature enhances the visibility of the phaneritic grains and intergrowths, distinguishing it from more melanocratic granitic rocks.[15]Chemical Composition
Major Elements
Alkali feldspar granites are characterized by a silica- and alkali-rich bulk composition, with major element oxides determined through whole-rock analyses typically employing X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry or classical wet chemistry methods.[22][23] These techniques provide precise quantification of oxide abundances by preparing fused glass beads or pressed pellets from powdered samples, ensuring accurate representation of the rock's chemical makeup.[24] Typical compositions feature high SiO₂ contents ranging from 70 to 77 wt%, reflecting their highly evolved, felsic nature, alongside Al₂O₃ at 12 to 14 wt%.[23][24] Alkali oxides are elevated, with K₂O between 4 and 6 wt% and Na₂O from 3 to 5 wt%, yielding a high alkali index (Na₂O + K₂O > 8 wt%) that underscores their alkaline affinity.[22][23] In contrast, CaO and MgO remain low at <1 wt% each, contributing to their metaluminous to peraluminous character, as indicated by molar ratios of Al₂O₃/(CaO + Na₂O + K₂O) near or slightly above 1.[24] Other major oxides, such as total Fe as Fe₂O₃ (1-5 wt%) and TiO₂ (<0.3 wt%), are subordinate but consistent with minimal mafic mineral content.[23]| Major Oxide | Typical Range (wt%) |
|---|---|
| SiO₂ | 70–77 |
| Al₂O₃ | 12–14 |
| Na₂O | 3–5 |
| K₂O | 4–6 |
| CaO | <1 |
| MgO | <1 |