OUMNH Number: | 323 |
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Name and quarry location: | Egyptian alabaster, alabastro cotognino, from one of several quarries at Hatnub, Mallawi, and other locations in the Nile valley, Eastern desert, Egypt. |
Geological description: | Fairly coarse-grained compact banded travertine, almost entirely composed of calcite; the slender orange ferruginous bands are often seen in the alabaster of the Nile valley. |
Comments: | This specimen is cut parallel to the bedding so the banding is only seen on the sides of the slab. Egyptian alabaster was quarried as early as 4,000 BC, and was used by the ancient Egyptians for making small pots known as 'alabastri' as well as for the ornamentation of buildings. The quarries were rediscovered in 1891. The exact geological environment of formation is uncertain; the stone occurs as veins and pods in Eocene limestone, and had been regarded as essentially a speleothem formation but some now consider that thermal springs may have been a contributing factor. Small amounts of this stone are still quarried, mainly for making souvenirs for tourists. |
References: | Borghini (1997) 140-141; Corsi (1845) 123-132; Harrell (2010b); Lazzarini (2002c) 241-243; Merrill (1893); Mielsch (1985) 37, taf.1; Nicholson & Shaw (2000); Price (2007) 48-49; Watson (1916) 362-364 |
Further information: |
Alabaster-travertine.pdf |
Corsi's classification: | Class 1. Marbles; Section 4. Concretionary marbles; Species 1. Alabasters; i. Antique alabaster |
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Corsi's text: | 96.30 Alabastro antico. Marmor Alabastrum. Alabastro a nuvole... la cava [era al] Tebaide oggi Sayd. |