Description
The name alabaster is used for two different minerals: gypsum and calcite (or selenite). The hardness of the two varieties is a key difference. Gypsum alabaster is so soft that it can easily be scratched with a fingernail (hardness 1.5 to 2). Limestone is resistant to fingernails, but can be scratched with a knife (hardness 3). Limestone is a yellowish-white, fairly hard marble. It is also called oriental alabaster because it was already worked in the Middle East in ancient times. Another name is onyx marble, because its banded texture is reminiscent of onyx. The Greek name alabastrites may come from the city of Alabastron, Egypt, where the stone was mined, but it is also possible that the city was named after the stone. It has also been suggested that the name derives from Arabic. Oriental alabaster was often used to make perfume and ointment bottles. Moreover, Egyptian canopic jars were often made of alabaster. Gypsum alabaster (or selenite) is a translucent stone composed of partially crystallized gypsum and is found in nodules. Its origins include England, Italy, Spain, and Egypt. The alabaster nodules often exhibit irregularities on the surface. Clay residues and bits of soil are partially present in the stone. This impurity is characteristic of alabaster and contributes to its charm. Today, gypsum alabaster is still used for the production of art and utensils. A couple celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary is called an alabaster wedding.
