Part III. 



STONES OF OTHER C^OIJNTRIES. 

 A.— ALABASTER. 



Italy. — Alabaster of the finest quality occurs in several i)arts of Italy, 

 particularly at Miemo, in Tuscauy, rontiba<;ni, and Castelliua, and at 

 Aosta, in Piedmont. The purest and best variety is, however, from Yal 

 di Marmolago, near Castelliua.* Some of these are very extensively 

 worked, the clouded varieties beingf made into vases and other objects, 

 while the pure white varieties are made into statuettes. In this form 

 they are sold in considerable (juantities in this country, ])assini;- under 

 the name of Florentine marbles. As prepared for the marlvct these are 

 indistinguishable from true marble by any but an expert, and it is safe 

 to say a large number of people are yearly imposed upon. Shouhl one 

 have reason to suppose that this article is being imposed upon him for 

 trnc marble he has but to try the object in some obscure part with the 

 thumb-nail. Alabaster is readily scratched or iiulented in this manner 

 while marble is not attected. Another test is to apply a dilute acid. 

 True marble will dissolve and effervesce briskly, while the alabaster re- 

 mains unchanged. Besides being softer and hence more liable to injury 

 these alabaster objects are inferior to those of marble in that they are 

 more easily soiled and are difficult to cleanse. 



It is stated + that the Italian alabaster is, when first quarried, semi- 

 transi)arent, and that it is wrought while in this state. It is then 

 rendered white and opaque (like marble) by placing the objects in a 

 vessel of cold water which is tlien slowly raised to the boiling point. 

 It is then allowed to cool to a, temperature of about 7(P or 8(P Fahr. 

 when the objects are removed and carefnlly wiped <lry. At first they 

 appear little changed by their baptism, but gr.adually assume the de- 

 sii'ed color and opacity. 



B.— SERPENTINOUS EOCKS. VERDANTIQUE MARRLES. 



EiKjland. — Xone of the American seri)entinous ro(;ks now known can 

 compare in ])oint of beauty, in variety and elegance of colors, witli those 

 of the Lizard district in Cornwall, England. A series of polished blocks 



*Hull: Biiilil. and Ornaiii. Stoiicw, \). 1(35. 

 tApjileton'H Diet. <if Mccliauics, Vol. ii, p. :?87. 



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