Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

view of stone 315

Corsi 315, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 315  
Name and quarry location: Alabastro a rosa, alabastro fiorito, most probably from the Pamukkale area, Denizli, Turkey  
Geological description: Compact banded travertine composed mainly of calcite, in some bands as colourless prismatic crystals. It is richly coloured by iron oxides - red hematite and brown goethite, in places clearly bushy growths suggesting the action of cyanobacteria.  
Comments: This alabastro a rosa is most probably alabastro fiorito from Pammukale. The spa resort of Pamukkale is the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis, and travertine, deposited by hot springs, forms huge terraces from which stone was extracted in ancient times, and is still quarried to this day. Ancient quarries have been located near the ruins of Hierapolis and near the village of Gölemezli.  
References: Corsi (1845) 135-136, 138; Mielsch (1985) 37, taf.1; Price (2007) 56  
Further information: Alabaster-travertine.pdf
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 4. Concretionary marbles; Species 1. Alabasters; i. Antique alabaster  
Corsi's text: 95.22 Alabastro antico. Marmor Alabastrum. Alabastro a rosa  

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