MINERALOGY. 
SECT. XII. 
F, Stalaftitical Spar, StalaBites Calcareus, Sta^ 
ladites. Stone Icicle, or Drop-ilune. 
thomboidal, cubical, or a plated form, with fmooth aud po- 
lilhed furfaces, it is called fpar; and as it is thus applied to 
ftones of different kinds, without any regard to their princi- 
ples, one ought necelTarily to add fome term to exprefs the 
conftituent parts at the fame time as the figure is mentioned % 
for inllance, Calcareous Spar, G) ofecus Spar, Flux Spar, 
Shorl or Cockle Spar, &c. This term, however, is not ap- 
plied but only to earths, and fuch ores as are of the fame fi- 
gure as the Lead Spar, 
All cryfiallifed fpars, when broken, fhew the fparry figure 
5n their particles, and the cryftallifation is to be afcribed to 
the empty fpace left by the contradlion of the fparry princi- 
ple : fuch holes filled with Drufen of fpars, are in Swedifii 
called Drake, or Drufe-hol f . 
The figure of the cryfials varies more in this genus than 
in any other, for which no reafon can be afiigned ; it ought 
not to be afcribed to faits, as long as the pretence of any fuch 
cannot be proved : but there are firong indications tofufpe£l, 
that other fubfiances may likewife have received the fame 
property to alTume an angular furface on certain occafions. 
See Mr, Cronftedt’s Introductory Speech at tne Royal Acade- 
my of Sciences at Stockholm. 
Befides, the confideration of thofe figures is a thing of 
more curiofity tnan of real ufe, becaufe no miner has yet 
been able to make any conclufion relative to the quantity 
or quality of the ores, from the difference of the figures of 
fpars found along with them; and the grotto makers never 
take any notice of the angles or fides, but think it fuliicient 
for their purpofe, if they make a fine or glittering appear- 
ance at a diftance. 
It would, neverthelefs, be well if any one would take up- 
on himfeif the trouble to obferve, whe<-her each ipecies of 
fpar has not a cercain determinate number of figuies cr fides, 
within which, it is confined, in its accretionso This has hi- 
therto been impoffiblc to do, becaufe all fpecies of ipars have 
been confou ded togcher, without regard to ‘heiv different 
principles : though, for my J do not think it. of any 
great confequence. 
•f Vy hat the author fays iii the above note is of Htt!e confequence to 
the Englifh hudent, as the name of fpar is never ufed with fiic!) latitude 
in our lanjuagt*. All fpars of this flakey texture were by our fornter 
writers, as Grew and Woodward, called Talcy Spars j but that term 
flow is juflly exploded. See my LeAures, D. C. 
C 2 This 
