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Andesine
An intermediate plagioclase compositional variety, historically associated with feldspars from Andean volcanic rocks.
Language and route: European scientific mineralogical formation after a place. English andesine, formed from the Andes Mountains + mineral suffix -ine
Literal gloss: of the Andes
The name and its history
First describer requires primary-source verification · Nineteenth-century mineralogical usage
- What does the word literally mean?
- The gloss ‘of the Andes’ describes the linguistic allusion. The original name and its modern scientific definition must be kept distinct.
- What did the original author mean?
- A feldspar recognised from South American rocks and named for the Andean range.
- Why was the name needed?
- Distinct plagioclases from volcanic rocks required more useful labels than ‘feldspar’ alone.
- What evidence supported the original concept?
- Specimen occurrence, optical characteristics and subsequent compositional measurements.
- How has geology changed the concept?
- Andesine is a compositional field of plagioclase, not a stand-alone approved mineral species. Its range is determined by chemistry, not by origin in the Andes.
Further historical context
Do not conflate the geographic root of andesine with andalusite, named after Andalusia.
Related names
Labradorite · Plagioclase · Anorthite · Albite · Andalusite
Sources
- Mindat, Andesine — Geographical name, modern compositional position, mineral status