Corsi 538, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History
| OUMNH Number: | 538 |
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| Name and quarry location: | Alabastro di Siena, from Siena, Tuscany, Italy |
| Geological description: | Banded yellow calcite, probably a compact banded travertine. |
| Comments: | Despite the very large number of 'alabastri' in his collection, Corsi did not recognise that this was yet another. The two minerals calcite and fluorite could be distinguished by comparing hardness on the unpolished back of the specimen; calcite, at 3 on Mohs scale of hardness is softer, and would be scratched by fluorite, which is 4 on the scale. |
| References: | |
| Further information: |
Alabaster-travertine.pdf |
| Corsi's classification: | Class 2. Fluorspars |
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| Corsi's text: | 133.1 Spato fluore. Spato di Siena |