

458 DOMAIN V. CALCAREOUS. 



MODE IV. ALABASTRITE. 



Ancient. The substances called alabastrum and ala- 

 bastrites by the ancients, are well known to be 

 merely calcareous, as they effervesce with ni- 

 trous acid ; whereas the moderns have applied 

 the name of alabaster to quite a distinct sub- 

 stance, impregnated with the sulphuric acid, so 

 that the nitrous can produce no effect. 



The classical writers of antiquity more fre- 

 quently use the word alabastrites than ala- 

 bastrum; and it seems therefore far more proper 

 to retain the former name for the ancient ala- 

 baster, than to apply it with some writers to the 

 modern. In general it is distinguished by its 

 yellow colour, especially mentioned by Pliny; 

 and often by brown stripes, arising from suc- 

 cessive depositions, with some resemblance of 

 the layers of the onyx, whence the onyx tables 

 and pavements of the ancients. For alabastrite 

 is acknowledged to be a mere deposition front 

 superincumbent rocks of marble ; and, with sta- 

 lactite and stalagmite, forms the sinter of the 

 Germans; while alabaster is an original rock, 

 and is even found primitive in the Alps. 



Of^this remarkable substance, so well known 



