Orthoclas - Carlsbad twin

This Carlsbad twin orthoclase comes from the Loket near Carlsbad.

Feldspars and some other minerals commonly exhibit twinning. It means that two (or more) separate crystals share some of the same crystal lattice points in a symmetrical manner which results in an intergrowth of two (or more) separate crystals in specific configuration. This phenomenon originate in initial phase of crystallization. There are several types of feldspar twinning – carlsbad, baveno, manebach, polysynthetic etc. Carlsbad twins are common in orthoclase, might be present also in plagioclase group. Usually can be found as two elongated crystals, which can be separated by a single composition plane.

Country Czech Republic
Locality Loket
Dimensions 4,5x3,4x1,8 cm
Weight 44.5g