Alabaster

n. pale translucent stone often used to create ornamental objects

Alabaster (sometimes called satin spar) is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals: gypsum (a hydrous sulfate of calcium) and calcite (a carbonate of calcium). The former is the alabaster of the present day; the latter is generally the alabaster of the ancients. The two kinds are readily distinguished from each other by their relative hardnesses. The gypsum kind is so soft as to be readily scratched by a finger-nail (hardness 1.5 to 2), while the calcite kind is too hard to be scratched in this way (hardness 3), though it does yield readily to a knife. Moreover, the calcite alabaster, being a carbonate, effervesces on being touched with hydrochloric acid, whereas the gypsum alabaster, when so treated, remains practically unaffected.
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Noun
1. a compact fine-textured usually white gypsum used for carving
(hypernym) gypsum
2. a hard compact kind of calcite
(synonym) oriental alabaster, onyx marble, Mexican onyx
(hypernym) calcite
3. a very light white
(hypernym) white, whiteness

n. alabaster, pale translucent stone often used to create ornamental objects

(n.)
A hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat translucent, or of banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is used in this sense by Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as oriental alabaster.
  

(n.)
A compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine texture, and usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow, red, or gray. It is carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc.
  

(n.)
A box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made.