Orthoclase Feldspar

A pink mineral with smooth surfaces which exhibit a pearly (glassy would be acceptable)
lustre. Does not scratch with finger nail or coin, may just about scratch with a knife
indicating a hardness of about 6, or if it does not scratch then >6. Colourless or white
streak. Two clear cleavage plains more or less at right angles. Note that cleavage planes
are identified by the repetitive pattern of preferential fracture throughout the specimen –
image only shows 2 faces.

Smoot flat cleavage faces exhibiting

Cleavage directions
pearly lustre.
in front face

Some irregular fractures

Cleavage directions in
side face – note
perspective distorts
angles!

10 mm
 Shap Granite
Note interlocking of all of the grains indicating a crystalline rock – either igneous or
metamorphic. The lack of any alignment/pattern/banding of crystals indicates igneous.
Crystals can be seen with the naked eye so coarse grained (phaneritic) - intrusive.
Overall colour is light so this is an acid intrusive igneous rock ~ granite. The pinky colour
and presence of phenocrysts indicate the porphyritic Shap Granite.

Large phenocrysts (up to

10mm long) of hard pink
mineral – orthoclase
feldspar 35%.
Phenocrysts set within a
matrix of small crystals
up to 3mm diameter.
Grey/glassy quartz 20%.

White plagioclase
feldspar 35%.

10mm
Black shiny mica 10%.