Corsi Collection of Decorative Stones

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view of stone 938

Corsi 938, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

side view of stone 938

side view of stone 938, approx. 145 x 73 x 40 mm, © Oxford University Museum of Natural History

OUMNH Number: 938  
Name and quarry location: Alabastro di Palestrina, from Palestrina, Rome, Lazio, Italy  
Geological description: Compact banded travertine composed of acicular calcite crystals, with a ferruginous micritic infill between grains. Cavities in the surface are filled with brown wax, intensifying the colour a little.  
Comments: Palestrina has been a spa town since Roman times, water from the Ceciliana spring being brought by way of an ancient tunnel to the Fonte Ceciliana, a short distance north west of Palestrina, for therapeutic uses. This stone may well be cut from the tufa deposits of the tunnel, and bears some similarity to Corsi's tartari.  
References:  
Further information:
 


Corsi's classification: Class 1. Marbles; Section 4. Concretionary marbles; Species 1. Alabasters; ii. Italian alabasters  
Corsi's text: 103.44/ S17.1 Alabastro di Palestrina  

Full entry in English

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Funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Oxford University Museum of Natural History University of Oxford