Min. [f. SPATH1 + -OSE2. Cf. SPATHIC a.1]
1. Of the nature of or resembling spath or spar; abounding in, consisting of, spar; foliated or lamellar in structure or texture; sparry.
a. Spathose iron, iron-ore, ore, = SIDERITE 6.
1776. Phil. Trans., LXVI. 620. The first experiment [was with] white spathose iron ore from Bayreuth.
1799. Hull Advertiser, 7 Sept., 4/2. White or yellowish spathose iron.
1801. Phil. Trans., XCI. 190. These cavities are analogous to those which appear in the crystals of the spathose ores of iron.
1823. W. Phillips, Min. (ed. 3), 236. Spathose iron … occurs of a wine yellow, brownish yellow, yellowish brown and brown colour.
1868. Joynson, Metals, 6. The celebrated ‘steel irons’ of Siegen, Styria, and Carinthia have always been produced from the spathose ores.
b. In general use.
1802. Playfair, Illustr. Huttonian Theory, 67. All these stones have a tendency to a spathose structure.
1822. J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 22. Calcareous spathose wood previously bituminized.
1856. S. P. Woodward, Mollusca, III. 76. Shell external, spathose layer produced beyond the phragmocone into a long pointed beak.
† 2. Derived from fluor-spar. Spathose acid, hydrofluoric acid. Obs.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., II. 139. The fluor is of various colours;… yielding much phosphorescence when thrown on hot iron, as well as a spathose acid gas.
