Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHAL'STONE, n. [G. schale, a scale, and stone, G. stein.]

A mineral which appears in masses, composed of thin lamins, collected into large prismatic concretions; sometimes in hexahedral prisms or tables. Its natural joints are parallel to the sides of a prism slightly rhombic. It is imperfectly foliated and somewhat shining and pearly. It is called by Hausman, tafelspath; by Phillips, tabular spar. Its localities, Ceylon, United States and Temeswar.