Definition

A type of mineral that is part of a group of feldspar minerals, commonly found in many types of rocks, and made up of sodium and calcium aluminum silicates.

Example

Plagioclase is often used in geology to identify different types of igneous rocks.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of plagioclase?

Yeah, I think it's a type of feldspar, right?

Exactly! It's interesting how it forms in different types of rocks.

I know, it's fascinating to think about how minerals like plagioclase shape our world.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Plagioclase → It is formed from "plagio-" (from Greek "plagios", meaning oblique) and "clase" (from Greek "klasis", meaning breaking). The word refers to a type of feldspar mineral that has an oblique cleavage pattern.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'oblique' ('plagio-') to remember that 'plagioclase' refers to a mineral that breaks in an oblique manner.

Visually Confused Words