A glass spacer for magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus,
- which is an amorphous oxide glass,
- wherein, in terms of mol %:
- an SiO2 content ranges from 45 to 68%;
- an Al2O3 content ranges from 5 to 20%;
- a total content of SiO2 and Al2O3 (SiO2+Al2O3) ranges from 60 to 80%;
- a B2O3 content ranges from 0 to 5%;
- an MgO content ranges from 3 to 28%;
- a CaO content ranges from 0 to 18%;
- a total content of BaO and SrO (BaO+SrO) ranges from 0 to 2%;
- a total content of alkali earth metal oxides (MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO) ranges from 12 to 30%;
- a total content of alkali metal oxides (Li2O+Na2O+K2O) ranges from 3.5 to 15%;
- at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Sn oxide and Ce oxide being included, a total content of Sn oxide and Ce oxide ranges from 0.05 to 2.00%;
- a content of Li2O is equal to or less than 8%;
- a molar ratio of Li2O content relative to a total content of alkali metal oxides {Li2O/(Li2O+Na2O+K2O)} ranges from 0.4 to 1;
- a content of TiO2 ranges from 0 to 5%;
- a total content of HfO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, La2O3 and Y2O3 (HfO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+La2O3+Y2O3) ranges from 0 to 5%;
- and
- a content of ZrO2 ranges from 0 to 3%,
- a glass transition temperature is equal to or higher than 625° C.;
- a Young's modulus is equal to or more than 83 GPa;
- a specific gravity is equal to or less than 2.85;
- and
- an average linear expansion coefficient at 100 to 300° C. is equal to or more than 48×10−7/° C.