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spathic

Resembling spar, esp. in regard to having good cleavage. Syn:spathose

spathic iron

A native ferrous carbonite, also called siderite, containing 48% iron and
usually traces of manganese. It is the best native ore for making steel
tools by the direct method formerly used. See also:siderite
Sandstrom

spathic iron ore

See:siderite

spathization

Widely distributed crystallization of sparry carbonates, such as calcite
and dolomite; development of relatively large sparry crystals that have
good cleavage. AGI

spathose

See:spathic

spathose iron

Carbonate of iron, FeCO3 . See also:siderite

spawl

See:spall

spawl beater

See:sledger

SP curve

See:spontaneous potential curve

spear

a. One of several types of fishing tools designed to be driven and wedged
inside of bits, rods, etc., lost in a borehole. CF:fishing tap
Long
b. A rodlike fishing tool having a barbed-hook end, used to recover rope,
wire line, and other materials from a borehole. Long
c. Eng. A wooden pump rod cut into lengths of about 40 ft (12 m) , and,
for heavy work, often measuring 16 in (40.6 cm) square. Wrought iron
spears are also used. Fay

spearhead

a. The point of convergence of two cross faces set off in the form of the
letter V. TIME
b. A conical head on a wire-line core barrel, engaged by the dogs on the
overshot assembly for the purpose of removing the inner tube of the core
barrel from a borehole. Long

spear pyrite

A marcasite in twin crystals resembling the head of a spear.
See:marcasite

special

See:special rounds

special flexible rope

A wire rope composed of 6 strands of 37 wires each. Lewis

special rounds

Sometimes used to designate a very high quality or grade of drill
diamonds. Long

specialty steel

A steel containing alloys that provide special properties, such as
resistance to corrosion or to heavy load. Also called alloy steel.
Hammond

species

A mineral distinguished from others by its unique chemical and physical
properties; it may have varieties. AGI

specific

Word used with a special meaning in mineral dressing, where minerals of
the same species often exhibit differences in their reactions. "Specific
to" warns the observer that the process in hand is empirical in some ways,
designed to apply to one specific orebody. Pryor, 3

specific adhesion

The chemical bond between glued or cemented surfaces as distinct from any
form of mechanical bond. Hammond

specific adsorption

Selective adsorbing action. Pryor, 3

specific damping capacity

A measure of the vibrational energy absorbed by the rock and may be
considered to be a measure of the internal friction. It is determined by
the sharpness of resonance that is evident when a specimen is vibrated
through a range of frequencies centered on the fundamental longitudinal
resonant frequency. Damping of the dry type (coulomb damping) is commonly
assumed to be independent of the velocity, and thus independent of the
frequency, and is somewhat sensitive to moisture content.
Syn:coulomb damping