noun
- a type of feldspar mineral that is a major component of igneous rocks, characterized by its white to gray color and striped appearance
Usage: geology
Examples
- The granite sample contained large crystals of plagioclase and quartz.
- Plagioclase is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust.
- The geologist identified plagioclase by its characteristic twinning patterns.
- Basalt typically contains plagioclase along with pyroxene and olivine.
- Under the microscope, the plagioclase showed distinctive striped markings.
- The rock’s composition was roughly half plagioclase and half pyroxene.