peristerite

peristerite
/peuh ris"teuh ruyt'/, n.
a whitish, iridescent variety of albite, used as a gem.
[1835-45; < Gk perister(á) pigeon, dove + -ITE1]

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      iridescent gemstone in the plagioclase (q.v.) series of feldspar minerals. The name (from Greek peristera, “pigeon”) refers to the resemblance of fine specimens such as those from Ontario and Quebec to the commonly iridescent feathers of a pigeon's neck. In peristerite—usually a form of one of the sodium-rich varieties of plagioclase albite or oligoclase—the sodium aluminosilicate and calcium aluminosilicate that make up the mineral separate and form intergrowths of submicroscopic but distinct crystals of the two compounds. The iridescence probably arises from diffusion of light by adjoining areas of different optical properties, or from reflection and diffraction of the separating crystals of the two different substances.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Peristerite — Pe*ris ter*ite, n. [Gr. ? a pigeon.] (Min.) A variety of albite, whitish and slightly iridescent like a pigeon s neck. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Peristerite — Albite Albite Catégorie IX : silicates Albite Zillertal, Autriche (15x14cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • peristerite — pe·ris·te·rite …   English syllables

  • peristerite — pəˈristəˌrīt noun ( s) Etymology: Greek peristera dove, pigeon + English ite : a gem variety of albite resembling moonstone and showing internal reflections of blue, green, and yellow …   Useful english dictionary

  • Acid plagioclase — Albite Albite Catégorie IX : silicates Albite Zillertal, Autriche (15x14cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Analbite — Albite Albite Catégorie IX : silicates Albite Zillertal, Autriche (15x14cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Andesine — Albite Albite Catégorie IX : silicates Albite Zillertal, Autriche (15x14cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cleavelandite — Albite Albite Catégorie IX : silicates Albite Zillertal, Autriche (15x14cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cryptoclase — Albite Albite Catégorie IX : silicates Albite Zillertal, Autriche (15x14cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cryptose — Albite Albite Catégorie IX : silicates Albite Zillertal, Autriche (15x14cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

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