
Alabaster black
All prices incl. VAT, plus shipping costs.
For deliveries to countries other than Germany
the final prices may change in the checkout.
MORE INFO
Available items go immediately to shipping - free postage from 150 € in Germany for most items - 60 days return policy!
All prices incl. VAT, plus shipping costs.
For deliveries to countries other than Germany
the final prices may change in the checkout.
MORE INFO
Rare black alabaster - just arrived!
Predominantly pieces without sawn edges with only a few blemished edge layers. Very layered, cracks are possible. Black alabaster contains carbon and therefore has a slightly higher Mohs hardness than transparent white alabaster. The crystal structure is also somewhat finer and denser. White to grey veins may appear when polished.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Origin: Spain | Spain |
Mohs hardness | 2 - 2,5 |
Appearance | Dark, occasionally with white-transparent markings |
Structure | homogeneous, semi-crystalline |
Density | 2.3 kg/dm³ |
Special features | Not weather-resistant |
There is no place in Spain where black alabaster is reliably and regularly mined. Occasionally, a small layer of this rare alabaster appears during ordinary earthworks. Black alabaster is therefore only temporarily available.
PROCESSING
Black alabaster is very easy and quick to machine. Machining avoids 'damage' to the stone, which results in white areas. For processing with chisels, we particularly recommend claw chisels and flat or lettering chisels with a forged steel mallet head in combination with a wooden mallet. This allows the stone to be worked gently. We do not recommend point chisels because the stone structure is destroyed too quickly and white spots appear when grinding and polishing. Rasps and files are also suitable for processing.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Alabaster is a crystalline form of the mineral gypsum. Alabaster is extracted by mining nodules of different sizes that are found in the ground. Depending on where they are found, not only the size of the nodules varies, but also the colouring of the alabaster. Iron oxide penetrating the stone from the outside can colour the stone pinkish to reddish, for example. In addition to transparent white, there is grey, light yellow, reddish, brown and almost black alabaster with white veins in some cases.
Stone is a natural product. We endeavour to reproduce the appearance of our sculptural stones as accurately as possible in the illustrations so that the character of the stone can be recognised. Ultimately, each stone is a unique piece and the appearance may differ accordingly from the illustration.
Here you will find interesting information on calculating the weight of a sculptor's stone.