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Spar |
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spar. For dogtooth spar, see calcite calcite , very widely distributed mineral, commonly white or colorless, but appearing in a great variety of colors owing to impurities. Chemically it is calcium carbonate, CaCO3
..... Click the link for more information. ; for fluorspar, see fluorite fluorite or fluorspar , mineral appearing in various colors, e.g., green, yellow-brown, rose, and red. Chemically, it is calcium fluoride, CaF2. ..... Click the link for more information. ; for heavy spar, see barite barite , barytes [New Lat., from barium], or heavy spar, a white, yellow, blue, red, or colorless mineral. It is a sulfate of barium, BaSO4 ..... Click the link for more information. ; for satin spar, see calcite and gypsum gypsum , mineral composed of calcium sulfate (calcium, sulfur, and oxygen) with two molecules of water, CaSO4·2H2O. It is the most common sulfate mineral, occurring in many places in a variety of forms. ..... Click the link for more information. . See also Iceland spar Iceland spar, colorless variety of crystallized calcite, characterized by its properties of transparency and double refraction. It is used chiefly in the manufacture of Nicol prisms, which are essential parts of polarizing microscopes and other optical instruments. ..... Click the link for more information. and feldspar feldspar or felspar , an abundant group of rock-forming minerals which constitute 60% of the earth's crust. Chemically the feldspars are silicates of aluminum, containing sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, or barium or combinations of these ..... Click the link for more information. . spar1 1. a. any piece of nautical gear resembling a pole and used as a mast, boom, gaff, etc. b. (as modifier): a spar buoy 2. a principal supporting structural member of an aerofoil that runs from tip to tip or root to tip spar2 an unaggressive fight spar any of various minerals, such as feldspar or calcite, that are light-coloured, microcrystalline, transparent to translucent, and easily cleavable spar [spär] (aerospace engineering) A principal spanwise member of the structural framework of an airplane wing, aileron, stabilizer, and such; it may be of one-piece design or a fabricated section. (mining engineering) A small clay vein in a coal seam. (mineralogy) Any transparent or translucent, nonmetallic, light-colored, readily cleavable, crystalline mineral; examples are calespar and fluorspar. (naval architecture) A long, round stick of steel or wood, often tapered at one or both ends, and usually a part of a ship's masts or rigging. spar 1. A common rafter. 2. A bar for fastening a gate or door. 3. A heavy round timber. 4.See brotch.
Spar the equipment above the deck of a ship that is used for mounting loading gear, signals, lights, and radio antennas. Spars are also used as observation and communication posts. On modern self-propelled ships, spars include the masts, topmasts, yards, gaffs, and loading booms. On sailing ships, spars are used for raising, turning, and furling the sails. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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