Fart III 



STONES OF OTHER COUNTRIES. 

 A.— ALABASTER. 



Italy.— Alabaster of the finest quality occurs in several parts of Italy, 

 particularly at Miemo, in Tuscany, Foutibagni, and Oastellina, and at 

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

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

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

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

 they are sold in considerable quantities in this country, passing under 

 the name of Florentine marbles. As prepared for the market 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. Should one 

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

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

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

 while marble is not affected. 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 t that the Italian alabaster is, when first quarried, semi- 

 transparent, 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* then slowly raised to the boiling point. 

 It is then allowed to cool to a temperature of about 70° or 80° Fahr. 

 when the objects are removed and carefully wiped dry. At first they 

 appear little changed by their baptism, but gradually assume the de- 

 sired color and opacity. 



B.— SERPENTINOUS ROCKS. VERDANTIQUE MARBLES. 



England. — None of the American serpentinous rocks now known can 

 compare in point of beauty, in variety and elegance of colors, with those 

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



*Hull: Build, and Oniaiu. Stones, p. 1G5. 



t Apple ton's Diet, of Mechanics, Vol. n, p. 387. 



473 



