I'm a lit grad student studying Emerson, who has the wonderful quote comparing man to Labrador spar. I'm wondering if a rock I have here on my desk could be considered spar...unfortunately, Yahoo Answers won't let me put links to pics of it. So I made my profile pic the rock - I think if you click on it, you'll get a bigger (if not great) image of the rock held at the right angle to make it colorful. The main color is grey-black and when you hold it at angles, parts of it glow like an oil slick - bright blues, oranges, and golds. I realize the pic is crappy, but can anyone tell if this might be spar? Labradorite?
2007-05-29 21:25:05 · 3 answers · asked by T 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Your description pretty much sums up Labradorite. Spar, in current terms, is just a form of really clear calcite. Spar in any other context is just an abbreviation for feldspar (as mentioned)
2007-05-30 01:53:44 · answer #1 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds as if it might well be Labradorite. The word Spar is an old English word coined by miners which was used to describe any common mineral which showed distinct cleavage (splitting along distinct planes within the crystal) e.g. flourspar, feldspar etc. Labradorite is a variety of feldspar by the way.
2007-05-30 07:05:45 · answer #2 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, I'm not seeing the enlargement, but from your description, it could very well be labradorite. I've used it for making jewelry because of that surprising flash.
2007-05-30 06:33:10 · answer #3 · answered by justjennith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋