153 



SPLINTERY. 



This fracture is constituted by minute wedge- 

 formed scales, either straight or curved, and ad- 

 hering by their thick ends to the mass. As the 

 thin edge alone is visible, and as it is often trans- 

 lucent, the appearance is sometimes similar to 

 that produced by mere scales. 



In the larger splintery fracture, the scales are 

 flat, or curved, and of considerable breadth in 

 proportion to their thickness. This fracture oc- 

 curs, especially, in union with the conchoidal. 



The smaller, when the splinters are very 



narrow, may be attended by a somewhat fibrous 



<? 



aspect ; when they are thick and short, it passes 

 to the granular; and all these variations may be 

 easily expressed by compounding the terms. 



HACKLY. 



This variety of fracture is rare in rocks, and is 

 characterized by the extreme asperity and sharp- 

 ness of the protruding parts. The transverse 

 fracture of loosely aggregated fibres or scales, 

 produces a hackly fracture. It occurs in some of 

 the schistose rocks. 



