Adularia
/əˈdʒuːlərɪə/noun
A variety of orthoclase feldspar, especially the transparent or translucent form associated with moonstone.
Did you know?Adularia is the feldspar variety chiefly responsible for the floating, bluish-white sheen called adularescence in moonstone.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient era
Latinized Alpine place-name
Adula
“The name of the Adula mountain group in the Alps; its deeper linguistic origin is uncertain.”
18th Century
European mineralogy
Adularia
“A mineralogical name formed from Adula, referring to feldspar specimens associated with the Adula Alps.”
Early 19th Century
Scientific Latin
adularia
“The formal mineral name used in mineralogical classification for this variety of feldspar.”
19th Century
English
adularia
“A variety of orthoclase feldspar, often characterized by a moonlike internal sheen.”
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