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Satin spar

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Satin spar
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Satin spar, less commonly atlas spar, is a trivial, partly obsolete name for fibrous varieties of two minerals, gypsum and calcite,[1]:40 possessing a characteristic silky (satin) luster. Despite their very low hardness (2 or 3 on the Mohs scale), both atlas (satin) spars (especially selenite) are widely used as ornamental stones.

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It should be understood that both of the listed minerals, despite their name of “spars”, do not strictly belong to the number of the most well-known under this name feldspars — both from the point of view of chemical composition and from the standpoint of classical mineralogy.

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Main minerals and varieties

  • Selenite is a fibrous variety of gypsum,[1]:527 the most common form of satin spars;
  • Gypsum, satin spar[2]:429 in the form of a lustrous fibrous variety, not, however, defined as selenite;[3]:217
  • Calcite or calcite spar is a fibrous variety[2]:429 superficially resembling selenite,[4]:169 but much less common in nature;
  • Aragonite is one of the polymorphic natural varieties of calcite,[2]:429 sometimes having the same satin effect.
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See also

References

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