bitter spar
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A mineral: "bitter spar" is a specific name for a light-colored mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate. It is a source of the element magnesium and has practical applications in ceramics and as a fertilizer.
Usage
- The term "bitter spar" is a specialized geological and industrial term. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but is found in scientific, mining, agricultural, and manufacturing contexts.
- It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
Examples
- Noun:
- The geologist identified the white veins in the rock as bitter spar.
- This region is known for its mines that extract bitter spar for industrial use.
- Ground bitter spar can be added to soil to improve its magnesium content.
Advanced Usage
- The name "bitter spar" is an older, traditional term. In modern mineralogy, this mineral is more precisely and commonly known as dolomite.
- The "bitter" in the name may refer to a taste (though tasting minerals is not recommended), and "spar" is an old mining term for any non-metallic, crystalline mineral that breaks easily.
Variants and Related Words
- Dolomite (n): The modern scientific name for the mineral calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO₃)₂).
- The Dolomite Alps are named for the abundant dolomite rock in the region.
- Magnesium (n): A chemical element (Mg) for which bitter spar/dolomite is an important source.
- Carbonate (n): A salt of carbonic acid, describing the mineral's chemical composition.
Synonyms
- Dolomite: The direct and primary synonym in scientific and technical language.
Noun
- a light colored mineral consisting of calcium magnesium carbonate; a source of magnesium; used as a ceramic and as fertilizer