heavy spar
    n 1: a white or colorless mineral (BaSO4); the main source of
         barium [syn: heavy spar, barite, barytes, barium
         sulphate]

Permanent \Per"ma*nent\, a. [L. permanens, -entis, p. pr. of
   permanere to stay or remain to the end, to last; per + manere
   to remain: cf. F. permanent. See Per-, and Mansion.]
   Continuing in the same state, or without any change that
   destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved;
   abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as, a permanent
   impression.
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         Eternity stands permanent and fixed.     --Dryden.
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   Permanent gases (Chem. & Physics), hydrogen, oxygen,
      nitrogen, and carbon monoxide; -- also called
      incondensible gases or incoercible gases, before their
      liquefaction in 1877. The term is now archaic.

   Permanent way, the roadbed and superstructure of a finished
      railway; -- so called in distinction from the contractor's
      temporary way.

   Permanent white (Chem.), barium sulphate (heavy spar),
      used as a white pigment or paint, in distinction from
      white lead, which tarnishes and darkens from the
      formation of the sulphide.
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   Syn: Lasting; durable; constant. See Lasting.
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Heavy spar \Heav"y spar`\ (Min.)
   Native barium sulphate or barite, -- so called because of its
   high specific gravity as compared with other non-metallic
   minerals.
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Barite \Ba"rite\, n. (Min.)
   Native sulphate of barium, a mineral occurring in
   transparent, colorless, white to yellow crystals (generally
   tabular), also in granular form, and in compact massive forms
   resembling marble. It has a high specific gravity, and hence
   is often called heavy spar. It is a common mineral in
   metallic veins.
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Barytes \Ba*ry"tes\, n. [Gr. bary`s heavy: cf. Gr. bary`ths
   heaviness, F. baryte.] (Min.)
   Barium sulphate, generally called heavy spar or barite.
   See Barite.
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