Description
The mineral bytownite is a calcium-sodium-aluminum tectosilicate with the chemical formula (Ca,Na)(Si,Al)4O8. It belongs to the feldspars. Colorless, white, or gray bytownite has a vitreous luster, a white streak color, perfect cleavage along the [001] crystal plane, and good cleavage along the [010] crystal plane. Its average density is 2.71 and its hardness is 7. The crystal system is triclinic, and the mineral is neither radioactive nor magnetic. The name of the mineral bytownite is derived from the old name for Ottawa, "Bytown," Ontario, Canada, where it was first described. Bytownite is a common feldspar in metamorphic and igneous rocks such as pegmatite. It is part of the plagioclase series (albite-anorthite). The type locality of bytownite is located in Ottawa, Canada.
