lUIll.DINCi AND OliNAMlONTAi. STOiNKS. 475 



C— LlI\[ESTONES AND MARBLES. 



(1) AFRICA. 



]^u}i)i(lian Marbles'. — Witliin a very few years tliere have been re- 

 opened in Algeria and Tnnis tlie fanions qnariiesof "Nnniidian" mar- 

 bles, from wlience tlie ancient Ivonians ;ire stated to have oi)tained the 

 celebrated " Giallo Antico" and other stones for the decoration ol" their 

 houses and temples. 



According to Play fair,* the name NKmidian is incorrect, as tlie mar- 

 bles are not found in Numidia propei-, but in the ])rovinces of Africa 

 and Mauritanin. "Most of the Giallo Antico," says this antliority, 

 "used in Rome was obtained from Simittu Colonia, the modern Chem- 

 tou, in the valley of IMedjerda, the quarries of which are now being 

 worked by a Belgian conqmny ; but the most remarkable and valuable 

 marbles are found near Kleker, in the province of Oran, in Algeria. 

 There, on the top of Moniagne Grisc, exists an elevated plateau, 1,500 

 acres in extent, forming an uninterrupted nmss of the most si)lendid 

 marbles and breccias which the world contains. Their variety is as 

 extraordinary as their beautj'. There is creamy-white, like ivory; 

 rose color, like coral ; Giallo Antico. Some are variegated as a pea- 

 cock's plumage, and on the west side of the mountain, where tliere Isas 

 been a great earth movement, the rock has been broken up and rv- 

 cemented together, forming a variety of breccia of the most extraordi- 

 nary richness and beauty." 



There are in the Museum collections a series of these, f which range 

 in color through many shades of gray, drab, siena, yellow, and ros(>-red, 

 and which are designated in our markets under the names oi' /(ikhc, 

 antique dorc., paonazzo rosso^ janne chiaro ondaiv, janne rose, rose clah\ 

 hreche saiujuln, and jaspe rouge. All are extremely conipa(;t and hai-d 

 and acquire a surface and polish of wonderful beauty. The United 

 States, at present, produces nothing that can comi>are with them tor 

 interior decorations. 



Egyptian onyx or '■'■Oriental alabaster.'^ — This beautiful stone, which, 

 like tiie onyx marbles of Mexico, is a travertine, occurs, according to 

 Hull,t in extensive beds amongst the Tertiary limestones of Blad I'tecam 

 (marble country) near the ravine of Oned Abdallah, Egypt. The 



* Geol. Majr., Dec, 1885, p. ^}ii2. 



tTbo gift of Mr. E. Fritsch, of New York, by wliom llicy were imported. 



t linildiiig and Ornainontal Stones, p. 170. Tluu'o is coiiftiisiDH here among -lutliori- 

 ties. Unll, a.s aliove noted, sets down the Egyptian onyx as from IJlad Kecani. Dc- 

 iesse (op. cit., }>. 15.5), on the other hand, states tlmt the F>gyi)tian roclc comes from 

 JJcni-Sonef, ahont 25 leagues south of Cairo on the Nile, and from Syont, still fartlu-r 

 south, while the Algerian stono is stated to occur at Ain-Tembaiek, near tli(>. river 

 Isser, in the province of Oran. As the imported stone is known altogether as AV/.'/y- 

 iian onxy, it seems proliahle that it comes from either IJeni-Souef or Syont. To .judge 

 from samples in the Musimiiu collections the Egyi>!la:i stone is much 8ui)erior to iliat 

 of Aljieria. 



