572 GYPSUM. 



In the inferior strata, it also occurs in inde- 

 pendent masses, as well as in the stratified form. 

 As the variations of texture form the only varie- 

 ties which it presents, they are noticed as such in 

 the Synopsis. 



Organic remains of great interest are found in 

 the gypsum of the Paris freshwater deposit. 

 These are the bones of various terrestrial animals, 

 of extinct species and genera ; besides which it also 

 contains shells, and remains of fish and of vege- 

 tables. 



SYNOPSIS OF GYPSUM. 



A. Granular. 



a. Tender. 



b. Compact, the alabaster of artists. 



The first of these varieties is white, or grey, or 

 red ; the second is either white, or mottled and 

 veined with grey, yellow, and brown. 



B. Fibrous, sometimes rather dull, often highly 

 splendent. 



C. Platy, either on a somewhat large scale, or 

 approaching to the large granular. 



