Andesine
/ˈæn.deɪ.saɪn/noun
A feldspar mineral in the plagioclase series, intermediate between albite and labradorite.
Did you know?Andesine was named for the Andes Mountains, and the name was later used in a scientific classification system where mineral names often carry hidden geography rather than mysticism.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
German
Andesin
“A mineral name coined for a plagioclase feldspar associated with the Andes.”
19th Century
French
andésine
“The same mineral term adopted into mineralogical French.”
19th Century
Latin/Modern Scientific
Andes
“The Andes Mountains, the source of the mineral name.”
Pre-Roman
Unknown Indigenous/Toponymic
Antis
“An earlier name associated with the eastern region of the Andes, later Latinized in Spanish colonial usage.”
Modern English
English
andesine
“A type of plagioclase feldspar.”