Corsi 929, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History
| OUMNH Number: | 929 |
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| Name and quarry location: | Alabastro a pecorella, from Aïn Tekbalet district, Oran, Algeria. |
| Geological description: | Compact banded travertine composed of coarse-grained calcite, some bands are rich in iron oxides, dendritic growth most evident on the sides of the sample. |
| Comments: | Alabastro a pecorella means little sheep alabaster, but it is the richly coloured bushy growths of iron and manganese oxides that are more distinctive. It was exported to Rome from about the 2nd century AD onwards and is often found used and recycled in architecture and sculpture. It is not longer quarried today. This sample is less recrystallised than most other samples of Alabastro a pecorella in Corsi’s collection. |
| References: | Borghini (1997) 149-150; Chafetz (1998); Corsi (1845) 134-135; Lazzarini (2002c) 244-245; Merrill (1903) 281-284; Mielsch (1985) 39, taf.3; Price (2007) 54-55; Watson (1916) 355-359 |
| Further information: |
Alabaster.pdf |
| Corsi's classification: | Class 1. Marbles; Section 4. Concretionary marbles; Species 1. Alabasters; i. Antique alabaster |
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| Corsi's text: | 98.47/ S15.7 Alabastro antico. Marmor Alabastrum. Alabastro sardonica |