gabbro (gabro)

[A word of obscure origin used in Italy, but more especially in the neighborhood of Florence, and by the marble-workers there, and introduced into lithological science by Von Buch in 1809.] A rock of varied lithological character, e entially, according to the present general acceptation of the name among lithologists, a crystalline-granular aggregate of plagioclase and diallage, with which often occur magnetite (or me nach a nite) and apatite. Often the diallage is a ociated with a rhombic pyroxene (bronzite or hypersthene, two closely allied members of the augite or pyroxene family), and when this predominates the rock pa es into what is called norite. Olivin is also frequently present, and the predominance of this mineral gives rise to combinations to which the names olivin-gabbro and olirin -norite have been given. The original gabbro of Von Buch, now called sau urite -gab bro, is one of the many alterative forms of gabbek proper which is perhaps most perplexing of all rocks in spect to the manifold nature of the alterations it is liable to undergo. In regard to the nomenclature of many of these there is not much present unity among lithologists. Gabbro ro o (It., red gabbro), a rock occurring at the junction of the serpentine and the macigno (a micaceous sandstone) of Tuscany, is an altered sedimentary formation very variable in texture and composition. Gabbro times called, is serpentine. The gabbro verde of Tuscany does not contain diallage; the rock called gabbro in Corsi ca, on the other hand, has crystals of diallage di eminated through the serpentine. Verde di Corsica (It., Corsica green gabbro), or gabbro simply, as it is some. green), a variety of gabbro now called by Italians gran i tone and eufotide (euphotide), is beautiful green stone extensively employed in the interior decorations of the Medicean chapel in Florence. It is a crystalline aggregate of sau urite and smaragdite (a gra -green variety of hornblende). See hypersthenite. gabbroic (gab-rō'ik), a. [ It is becoming more and more evident that eruptions of gabbroic and granitic rocks must be admitted as important elements in its [the Cascade range's] construction. Science, IV. 71. IMG:content-1987.png:[blocks in formation] gaberlunyie, gaberlunzie (gab-er-lun'yi, -zi), n. [Sc. (the z repr. the old form of y, as in as soilzie, etc.), said to be or other food. Follow me frae town to town, And carry the Gaberlunyie on. Ritson's Scottish Songs , I. 166. 2. Short for gaberlunyie - man. I am no that clean unprovided for neither; and though I should die at the back of a dike, they'll find as muckle quilted in this auld blue gown as will bury me like a Christian; sae there's the gaberlunzie's burial provided for, and I need nae mair. Scott , Antiquary, xii. gaberlunyie-man, gaberlunzie-man (gab-erlun'yi-man, -zi-man), n. A beggar who carries a pouch for alms; a poor guest who cannot pay for his entertainment. [Scotch.] She's aff with the gaberlunyie - man . Ritson's Scottish Songs , I. 167. gabian (ga'bi-an), n. [See def.] A variety of petroleum or mineral naphtha exuding from the strata at Gabian, a village in the depart ment of Hérault, France. gabilla (ga-bil'ä; Sp. pron. gä-bēʻlya), n. [Cuban.] A finger or parcel of tobacco in Cuba, consisting of about 36 to 40 leaves. The bales are usually made up of 80 hands, each of 4 ga bill as. Simmonds. gabion (ga'bi-on), n. [ tom, varying in diameter from 20 to 70 inches, and in height from 33 inches to 5 or 6 feet, filled with earth, and serving to shelter men from an enemy's fire. In a siege, when making a trench, a row A Part of Trench, with A, Fascines, and B, Gabions. gabled pickets which form the frame for the gabion. Also called directing circle, form, and sometimes bottom. gabionade, gabionnade (ga bi-o-nad'), n. [ Gabionades used as traverses to protect guns from enfilading fire. Sci . Amer ., N. S., LVII. 272. 2. Any hydraulic structure composed in whole or part of gabions sunk in a stream to control the current.