Alabaster

general description

The name "alabaster" comes from Greek word alahastros, the exact meaning of which is not known for certain. Other names for the mineral and its varieties: Roman pearl, olbastre, lubaster, alabaster, alavaster.

Alabaster is a type of gypsum. The color of the mineral is most often white, but pink and greenish shades are also found. The shine is silky. Density - 1.3-2.6 g/cm1. Main deposits: USA, Germany, England, Italy, France, etc.

Medicinal properties

In ancient times, healers used alabaster to cure diseases of the kidneys, liver, stomach, thyroid and pancreas. The manuscripts that have reached us say that the doctor applied the mineral to the area of ​​the organ affected by the disease, tied it to the body with cotton or woolen cloth and recommended wearing the stone until the disease was cured. Ancient healers also put pieces of alabaster in medicinal drinks, as they believed that the stone enhanced healing powers drugs.

Magic properties

In ancient times, alabaster was often used to make figurines of gods, sacrificial animals, temple lamps, and ritual bowls. In Ancient Egypt, objects made of alabaster were placed in the tomb of the pharaoh, imitating things that served him during his lifetime and were especially dear.

It was believed that this soft, fragile and obedient stone to the artist’s hands was an example sent by the gods to people of how fragile and vulnerable human life is. At the same time, alabaster was valued as strong amulet out of anger powerful of the world this and the disfavor of the gods.

Since this stone is very fragile, the only type of jewelry made from it is beads. They should be worn by people born under the signs of Water and Air. For people born under the signs of Fire and Earth, it will bring neither harm nor benefit - it will be an ordinary decoration.

Talismans and amulets

As a talisman, alabaster helps its owner avoid dissatisfaction with his superiors, tells him how to do the right thing, and diverts energy negativity from the outside. You should not be upset if an alabaster product is broken or lost - this means that the talisman has warded off some kind of misfortune from the owner.

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Alabaster- one of the oldest building materials, known to craftsmen for more than 5 thousand years. And it is still in demand, despite the emergence of numerous dry building mixtures and the tightening requirements of the construction industry. Why?

Plaster = alabaster?

People who are not involved in construction sometimes have confusion in terms: some people think that gypsum and alabaster are synonyms, everyone simply calls it as they are used to, while others think that alabaster is the best and highest quality variety of gypsum.

Some even believe that alabaster is a stone from which statues are sculpted, and when crushed it is used for finishing work, so it is harder and whiter than plaster.

So what is alabaster?

This is really a “subspecies” of gypsum. Like building gypsum, it is obtained from a natural mineral - gypsum stone, both of them are calcium sulfate, onlythe first is dihydrate (CaSO4 2H2O) , Aalabaster – semi-hydrous (CaSO4 0.5H2O) .

The mineral is crushed and then fired at a temperature of about 180C.

The grind of alabaster is finer than that of building gypsum, and therefore this material has less ductility, but greater hardness.

Also, its unique feature is the drying time - alabaster mortar sets on average in 5 minutes, that is, much faster than other building mixtures.

These properties narrow the range of applications of alabaster to construction and finishing works, while gypsum can be used in many industries, including medicine, jewelry, casting, art, etc.

Characteristics and types of alabaster

The main average characteristics of alabaster are presented in the table below:

Compressive strength	4.0 MPa
Flexural strength	2.0 MPa
Binder grade	G5 – G6 for building mixtures, as well as for the production of plasterboard, gypsum particle boards and gypsum boards g13–g25 for the production of high strength elements
Water consumption (in terms of 1 kg of dry mixture, according to snip)	0.65-0.70 liters
Setting time	5-30 minutes from start to finish
Fire resistance	n heating up to 700° without destruction
Color	White, pearl gray, yellowish, light green, light pink (the color depends on the characteristics of the deposit and, according to experts, does not affect the strength qualities of the finished surface)

Since one of the main features of the mixture is the rapid development of strength, three types of alabaster are distinguished according to the speed of hardening:

Benefits of alabaster

Fast and smooth! Thanks to the speed of setting, the surface can be leveled literally in minutes, and after an hour, and even then if taken with a reserve, it is ready for further processing.

Alabaster solution has high adhesion and fits perfectly on almost any prepared surface

Frozen alabaster has good strength characteristics. To this day, elements of palaces and temples that are more than 5 thousand years old have been preserved, and they are in excellent condition. When dry, the material does not shrink and is resistant to cracking

Hardened Alabaster absorbs noise, therefore it can be used as auxiliary material for sound insulation.
6 hours exposure to open fire- this is exactly how much alabaster can withstand without significant deformation. It does not burn itself and prevents the spread of flame.

In the composition of the material no chemical additives, it is environmentally friendly and can be safely used in bedrooms, children's rooms, etc.
Democratic price compared to similar dry construction mixtures.

Application of alabaster

Due to the characteristics of the material, the range of applications of alabaster in construction is wide: it is relevant for the production of drywall, in demand by professional builders, and is also often used by private owners for minor repairs.

1. Correcting cosmetic defects in walls, ceilings and gypsum plasterboard/gypsum board surfaces. Alabaster mixture is traditionally used to repair various chips, dents, cracks, etc.
2. Preparing surfaces for finishing The alabaster mixture is excellent for puttingtying walls and partitions in rooms with normal humidity; it is used to prepare surfaces for all types of wallpaper, as well as decorative plaster. Some builders even use alabaster in bathrooms, under tiles, but in this case it is necessary that the material is completely hidden by the cladding and not in contact with water. This principle is also true for the kitchen, since alabaster absorbs moisture vapor.
3. Electric installation work Alabaster is an electrician's joy, most comfortable material, allowing you to quickly fix the cable in the wall without the risk that it will move while the mixture dries. In addition, many people use it when installing socket boxes, because... even if the plug is roughly pulled out of the socket, the structure, thanks to the hardness of alabaster, is guaranteed to remain in the wall, which sometimes more expensive and modern dry mixes cannot provide.
4. Interior design. When decorating rooms with stucco, a specific problem often arises: cast gypsum elements have considerable weight and therefore must be firmly fixed to the base. This is especially true for ceilings. And alabaster in this case - perfect option. It will also come to the rescue for masking and repairing small flaws in stucco molding and is indispensable for restoration work.

Preparing for work

When working with alabaster, half of the success depends on the quality of preparation, namely, on the selection of containers and tools.
To make the process easier, consider the following principles.

• No metal containers right away! Alabaster will stick tightly to the iron walls, which means loss of material, inconvenience and damaged container. Plastic dishes fits better, but the most comfortable option is still rubber: the solution does not stick to the springy walls, and after finishing the work, the dried residues can be easily shaken out; to do this, just squeeze the mold several times and then turn it over. In addition, if desired, you can purchase special buckets for working with plaster in hardware stores.
• There is no container with the remaining solution right away! The dried solution accelerates the hardening of the new batch being mixed.
• As for the spatula, they are very convenient modern instruments from plastic or rubber, the mixture does not stick to them. But a classic steel spatula is also quite suitable, preferably a new one: according to the observations of some craftsmen, rust accelerates the setting of the already fast-hardening solution

For small volumes of mixture

It is convenient to seal small portions of alabaster in nylon buckets or compact rubber containers. Often builders use halves of ordinary children's balls of suitable diameter.
A spatula is optimal for stirring “small doses” of the alabaster mixture.

For large volumes

Plastic or rubber bucket line in one piece cellophane, tight and without holes, pin the “tails” to the edges of the container so that the polyethylene does not move during stirring; After use, the film is simply removed from the bucket and thrown away.

It is convenient to stir the solution with a construction mixer, or, if it is not available, with a drill with an attachment.

Mixing and working with the solution

It is important to answer three questions: in what proportion to mix, how exactly to mix and what nuances should be taken into account when mixing?

Actually, the proportions depend on the purposes for which the solution is planned to be used. SNiP recommends the following ratios:

In order not to ruin the material and get a high-quality solution, stick strictly to technology.

remember, that the mixture is added to the water, but in no case vice versa!

Powder needed sprinkle gradually like flour in pancake dough, and mix thoroughly until the mass is homogeneous.

The correct putty solution has the consistency of mousse or yogurt.

If the solution begins to harden, and you didn’t have time to use it up or do what you planned just throw it away, without trying to “reanimate” by adding water. With alabaster, the principle “it died like that” is 200% correct; the set solution is no longer suitable for anything.

When applying the solution, note that when it dries, the material increases slightly in volume.

Tips from the experts:

1. Theory and SNiPs- this is, of course, good, but in practice, alas, the dry mixture can behave differently, it all depends on the brand and even the batch. Therefore, before closing the entire required volume, conduct a test with 100 grams of material.

2. For mixing use cold water.

3. When mixing the solution, it is definitely worth strive for uniformity. However, overdoing it is also fraught: there is an opinion that mixing too long and thoroughly, especially with a mixer, disrupts the structure of alabaster, as a result of which it loses strength.

How to extend the life of alabaster solution?

Beginning craftsmen, as well as private owners without experience or construction skills, when working with alabaster, often wonder whether it is possible to slow down the hardening of the solution a little.

And there really are such ways. Some of them are quite scientific, some relate to “folk” methods, which, nevertheless, have shown themselves to be quite good in practice.

Method 1. Bone glue.

A good old remedy, approved by more than one generation of builders. When mixing, add any bone-based glue, be it slightly diluted painter's or carpenter's glue. The main thing is the dosage: 2% of the total weight of the mixture.

Method 2. Citric acid

The recipe is as follows: for 0.5 cups of alabaster, take 4-5 grains citric acid and throw into cold water while mixing. However, masters note that, despite its apparent simplicity, the method is not universal, since the amount of acid must be selected for a specific alabaster mixture, that is, tests and experiments are required.

Method 3. PVA glue

This is where builders are divided into two camps. Some say that 3% PVA by weight of the mixture gives an excellent result, that is, it extends the viability of the solution almost several times and in the future does not affect its strength in any way. Others object to them - they say that the film that PVA forms on the surface when drying can block the evaporation of water, so that recrystallization and enlargement of sodium sulfate hydrate crystals are likely, and this leads to a deterioration in strength characteristics.

How to choose and where to buy?

It would seem that alabaster is a simple mixture, without chemicals, without plasticizers, take the first package of any brand you come across and go ahead, because it is difficult to spoil the material. However, there are still nuances in the choice.

1. Since alabaster is extremely susceptible to moisture, it must be stored in dry rooms. So it is advisable to purchase the mixture in stores, and not in markets, where the tightness of containers often leaves much to be desired, and certainly not in open-air areas
2. Check the integrity of the packaging carefully, because at the slightest violation, there is a chance that the material has partially or completely lost its properties.
3. No matter how simple the alabaster mixture may be, You should choose not only by price, but also by manufacturer: large manufacturers are given priority, since, thanks to well-established and regulated production, they are ready to ensure stability of quality, while for noname brands the quality can “dance” greatly from batch to batch.
4. Give back preference for brands whose packaging indicates the proportions for mixing their mixture, because, despite SNiP standards, recommendations may vary.

Modern building materials are varied and their variety causes surprise and confusion when choosing. Craftsmen use both new materials and very old ones, which have been known since ancient times, such as gypsum or alabaster.

The question often arises: is there a difference in the compositions? Which mixture should be used in this or that case? To make the right choice, you should understand the difference between gypsum and alabaster.

Building mixtures: alabaster and gypsum - what's the difference?

You can figure out what the difference is between alabaster and plaster after detailed study methods for obtaining this or that dry mixture and the scope of application of these compositions.

Gypsum, what is it? Dry composition based on natural natural gypsum stone , extracted from sedimentary rocks, crushed into fine powder, is called gypsum. It has no odor and is not affected by high temperatures and high humidity. Gypsum is a hypoallergenic building material for humans and completely harmless.

Pretty plaster widely used in people's daily lives. It is used in construction work, it is the basis for the manufacture of plasterboard boards. It is used as finishing material. The most finely ground mixture, powder, is used in medicine, as a fixing material in traumatology and dentistry.

For designers, artists, sculptors, all people involved in creativity and art gypsum universal material , allowing you to embody the most daring creative ideas. Plaster stucco moldings decorate the exterior facades of buildings.

How is the material gypsum has plasticity. Dries quite quickly. After drying, the gypsum may increase slightly in volume; this quality should be taken into account. The dry gypsum mixture is practically not stored due to its hygroscopicity. The ability to absorb moisture and quickly harden inside the package is very high. The composition should be stored in dry rooms.

Alabaster - what is it

Alabaster is Latin name dry mixture from which vases were made. In a word, alabaster is a rock that consists of fine-grained gypsum. Alabaster contains fine powder extracted from gypsum stone.

But in its manufacture high temperatures are used, the ground raw materials are fired, and the output is a gypsum mixture with new technical characteristics. Its second name is building gypsum.

Alabaster becomes the hardest, in comparison with gypsum. Curing of the composition occurs faster. By choosing alabaster as a composition to level the surface of the walls, you can plaster the walls in twenty minutes. Alabaster mixture has a number of advantages:

• more resistant to high temperatures;
• has the ability to regulate indoor humidity;
• completely safe for humans.

The use of alabaster in construction and finishing works widespread. In electrical installation work for fastening electrical wires Due to its rapid hardening, it is convenient to use alabaster mortar. The application is more appropriate for sealing seams, chipped sections of the wall and cracks.

The composition penetrates deeper inside the crack. This means that the bond will be more reliable and better quality. Beacons and slopes are laid out with alabaster, because the composition has high hardness and dries quickly. Alabaster is used for plastering walls and structures that enclose or divide a room.

Construction gypsum, alabaster, use for room decoration and production of decorative items. Alabaster, which is widely used in the manufacture of vases, figurines and various crafts, is subjected to polishing. Products are polished using old methods, using horsetail or scraping.

To get better polishing of the product crushed mother of pearl is used. The only requirement for using items in the interior will be the humidity of the room. With high indoor humidity characteristic properties alabaster are lost to the point of destruction. Also, fairly dry air can lead to cracking of the material.

Building gypsum is a quick-drying composition to change this property into alabaster add polymer impurities. The mixture with various additives has about twelve varieties. This or that composition differs in its hardness and hardening time. The hardened composition of alabaster is light, no changes in volume or shape occur, and there is no shrinkage.

The working composition of alabaster is obtained by adding a certain amount of water to a portion of the dry mixture. Any alabaster mortar will harden quickly, this must always be remembered.

A solution that has begun to harden cannot be revived; it is disposed of. Eat a few rules, using which you can avoid unpleasant moments when preparing and using the solution:

1. The alabaster mixture solution must be prepared so much that it can be used in six minutes. The portion of the finished mixture will be small.
2. Alabaster mixture is very difficult to clean from plastic or metal surfaces, so it is better to dilute alabaster in a container made of rubber or silicone. If you don’t have a rubber or silicone container at hand, then cover the container with plastic bag You can use a plastic or metal container.
3. Depending on the use of the building alabaster composition, strictly adhere to the proportions of the dry mixture and water.
4. To avoid the formation of lumps of the solution and the appearance of unnecessary air bubbles, it is necessary to add the dry mixture to the water in small portions, stirring constantly.

To perform various construction works, the proportions of dry mixture and water will be different. Plastering walls with a liquid solution of building gypsum can be done by diluting alabaster in a 1:1 ratio, take 500 grams of alabaster and the same amount of water.

The resulting liquid solution of building gypsum is suitable for leveling wall surfaces, as well as leveling the surface of the partitions. A thicker alabaster solution can be obtained in a ratio of 0.5:1, i.e. the composition will contain 500 grams of water and 1 thousand grams of dry mixture. This composition is recommended for gluing plaster stucco to walls or ceilings.

For electrical installation work, a plaster solution is required. even thicker. It is this consistency of the composition that will allow you to secure wires or cup holders for sockets and switches in the walls almost instantly. Construction alabaster is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2, i.e., take one part water and two parts dry mixture.

The dry mixture must be diluted water at room temperature. If the water is hot, the diluted mixture will shorten the hardening time. After completing all work, you must immediately wash all tools in warm water. Letting the solution dry completely on the instruments will prevent them from being cleaned. The composition hardens and sticks tightly to the tools.

Building material based on natural stone universal and time-tested. Alabaster products and mixtures will not lose their uniqueness. Working with alabaster is easy. The combination of aesthetics, accessibility, range of applications and high-quality results, building gypsum will occupy its high place in the variety of building materials for a long time.

It is difficult to imagine a renovation without using this material. Alabaster, whose use is very wide, is one of the most common materials used in repairs, construction, and interior decoration. In the retail chain it is sold in the form of a white powder, diluted with water before use. It is distinguished from other similar materials by its rapid hardening.

Concept, types, properties

He is called construction alabaster or plaster, consisting of a dry mixture of components. Gypsum is considered the main substance among them. The elasticity of alabaster is provided by polymer components. This material is classified as non-flammable, environmentally friendly natural materials. It has excellent soundproofing properties and water resistance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before you start working with a mixture prepared from alabaster powder, you should study the characteristics of the material used. The powder is inexpensive and is in deserved demand among buyers for its excellent technological performance. In general, construction alabaster has the following properties:

• dries quickly upon contact with water (sets in 5 minutes, completely hardens in 30 minutes), which makes the material indispensable when you need quick and high quality finish surfaces;
• preventing the appearance of cracks;
• an even film is formed on the treated surface;
• good fire-resistant properties (difficult to ignite);
• high sound insulation.

This finishing material is light in weight and does not shrink during the hardening process. If the question arises as to whether alabaster is harmful to human health, then we can absolutely say that it is safe. The powder is predominantly white in color, but it also occurs in other colors: light gray, yellow, and sometimes it has greenish and pink shades.

What temperature can alabaster withstand? It can withstand exposure to significant temperatures. Resists heat up to 700° without destruction. The destructive consequences of interaction with open fire will be visible after 6 hours.

Negative characteristics of the material include its insufficient strength and inability to withstand heavy loads. Due to the fact that alabaster can absorb water when hardening, it should not be used in particularly damp rooms. The frozen alabaster mixture does not like it when the air around is dry and hot, then the material will simply crumble due to loss of moisture reserves and a decrease in viscosity. Such disadvantages are eliminated by introducing various additives into the alabaster solution.

Features of the material

When working, you must remember about the characteristics inherent in this substance. In addition to the rapid hardening characteristic of it, it is capable of increasing in volume. A distinctive feature of this material is also that it does not stick to the surface of rubber products. It is even recommended to prepare a solution from it in a regular rubber ball. The material is stored in a dry place with humidity not exceeding 60%.

Currently Based on the rate of hardening, the material is divided into the following types:

• with rapid hardening;
• with normal hardening speed;
• with slow hardening.

In the first case, the mixture used will begin to set a few minutes after its preparation, and after a quarter of an hour it will completely harden. The solution of the second type will begin to harden after preparation after 7 minutes, and will finally harden in 35 minutes. For the latter type of mixture, hardening begins after 20 minutes. from the moment of preparation, and the solution will finally harden after 40 minutes.

The difference between alabaster and plaster

Often people who do not have the necessary information Both alabaster and gypsum are considered the same material. In fact, alabaster is obtained from gypsum after its thorough processing. First, the gypsum is crushed, converted into powder, then heated until a temperature of 180° is reached. As a result of all operations, alabaster is obtained.

A little about plaster

This natural material, environmentally friendly, odorless. Unlike alabaster, it has a wider range of uses. Its frequent use in construction is due to its good viscosity, fast, durable drying, and significant resistance to fire.

WITH positive side gypsum is characterized by the fact that it is able to absorb excess moisture in the room; and if there is a lack of moisture, it can give it back. Such unique property other building materials do not have, which allows gypsum to become widespread in interior finishing work for residential (industrial) premises.

Differences

Visually, the difference between these two substances may not be detectable. You need to look for her soon in the properties of each material, and not in a simple inspection of the result of their application. Gypsum, unlike alabaster, has greater versatility in use. Gypsum is used in various fields of human activity. Among them is medicine, where it is used in the making of casts.

Such plaster casts are needed in dental clinics for the manufacture of dentures. The casts are of high quality. This promotes precise work that results in a person being comfortable with artificial teeth. Making dental impressions is just one of the uses of gypsum in the medical field, where it has been used almost since the discovery of the material.

For example, it is well known that when an arm (leg) is broken apply a special bandage (plaster). In addition to medicine, gypsum is used in architecture and art. Gypsum was used to create various bas-reliefs and for the interior and exterior decoration of classical buildings with stucco. In sculptures applied arts Gypsum-based decorations are also popular.

The alabaster mixture dries and hardens faster than plaster. This property prevents the use of alabaster in the field of medicine and art. Often, even during construction work, components are added to the alabaster mortar that prevent it from hardening. There are no such problems when working with gypsum. Gypsum, unlike alabaster, is softer.

Application of alabaster

It is used as a finishing material in construction:

1. Production that produces dry plaster, plasterboard panels, stucco molding, and other products cannot do without it.
2. It is used to seal cracks, holes, chips, and seams on the walls and ceilings of rooms.
3. The use of alabaster helps to fix electrical cables inside special grooves.
4. It is used in the production of slopes, beacons, puttying walls and other fences.

Often, due to rapid hardening, alabaster is added to mortar cement in order to slow down the hardening process of the solution. At the final stage, the surface treated with alabaster mortar is often polished, ground or scraped. It should be remembered that no contact between the alabaster product and water should be allowed, otherwise any polish will become dull.

Selecting containers for preparing the mixture

Since the mixture obtained from alabaster powder tends to rapid hardening, diluting this material with water somewhat different from other similar solutions. If you prepare the mixture in a bucket or bowl, then when the alabaster hardens in it, the container will have to be constantly cleaned of it, which is problematic. In this case, experienced builders try to dilute a small amount of alabaster using rubber containers.

The remains of alabaster can be easily removed from there by squeezing an elastic thing. This convenient device it can be made from a simple chamber, half a rubber ball. When diluting large quantities of the mixture at a time, the inner surface of the container, in order to preserve it, is covered with plastic film, the edges of which are securely fastened.

Preparation of working solution

Any person working with alabaster should know how to breed it. The process of preparing a working solution of alabaster is reminiscent of the procedure for diluting dry glue before gluing wallpaper. To do this, take the components at the rate of: for 1 kg of alabaster - 0.5 liters of water. The selected container is filled with water, into which dry alabaster is carefully poured. The components are mixed, preventing the formation of lumps, until the consistency of sour cream is achieved. After about 2 min. the mixture is ready.

Freshly prepared alabaster solution is used immediately after preparation. If it dries out, it will be unusable. In order to use the solution longer, you need to know what to add to the alabaster to make it harden more slowly. Adding glue (carpentry, wallpaper) to the solution in an amount of 2% of the total weight of the mixture and a lime solution will help delay the drying process of the material.

To ensure that the result of the work meets the requirements, you need to know how to dilute construction alabaster in relation to a certain type of work. Water resistance of alabaster product improved by applying paint or a special moisture-proof layer to its surface. To apply the prepared alabaster mixture, use a spatula or trowel. Upon completion of work, the tools used are thoroughly washed.

Alabaster solution for various types of work, done correctly

To get a good result, certain proportions should be observed when preparing the mixture. Otherwise, the mixture will either harden quickly or not dry at all. To avoid such situations, you must adhere to a proven recipe.

First, 0.5 liters of water is poured into a rubber container, and 1 kg of alabaster from a bag is gradually poured into it. The bag with the material is held with one hand, and the mixture is mixed with the other. When mixing, no powder should remain on the walls of the container. The result will be a homogeneous mass without lumps. It should not be stirred for too long to avoid loss of strength.

After 5 min. After cooking, the mass will thicken. It will take 20 to 30 minutes for the solution to completely harden. Taking this fact into account, you should take the amount of alabaster for kneading that can be used in 5, maximum 7 minutes. work performed. The prepared solution is used for covering formed cracks, fixing wires, and other minor work.

Applied to plaster used for walls requires a slightly different preparation of the mixture. To begin with, the type of work to be done is determined. It is best to level the outer walls of buildings using cement mortar. Internal walls covered with a mixture of lime. If you use alabaster for plaster, using it with lime is suitable for eliminating all kinds of errors on the walls: cracks, cracks.

A dry lime mixture is first prepared, to which water and alabaster substance are then added. Instead of containers, you can use the remainder of a rubber tire (another container) more than 10 cm in height. First, a certain amount of sand (1 part) is poured into it, then lime (5 parts). Next, use a spatula (construction mixer) to mix these substances until smooth.

Then add water, stirring the mixture until it reaches the consistency of rich sour cream. After this, they begin to make an alabaster “dough”, 1 part of which should account for 4 parts lime mixture. Next, the alabaster “dough” is poured into a container with lime. All components are mixed briefly but thoroughly. Having prepared the substance, they proceed directly to the construction work itself.

The first step is to “spray” the surface, when a small amount of the mixture is taken with a construction shovel, it is thrown onto the surface of the wall with a sharp movement of the hand. Do this carefully so that the material does not splash the entire wall.

The next step is to apply primer using a wide spatula. The soil layer is leveled. A thin layer of plaster is placed on top. They cover the soil until it dries, using a roller (brush). When the plaster itself has dried, it is processed counterclockwise with a construction plastic trowel, using circular movements of the hand.

Having an idea of ​​what alabaster is, its use in performing certain construction and repair work can be obtained in high results from its use. You only need to know approximately how much alabaster powder is needed to complete a given amount of work, in addition, you should follow the recommended proportions when diluting it.

Compiled by: O. I. Polyakova

Number of colors and shades: 250

Apricot- the color of ripe apricot, yellow-red.

Aquamarine- colors sea ​​wave, greenish blue.

Aquamarine- cm. Aquamarine.

Alabaster- resembling alabaster in appearance, matte white with a touch of yellow.

Orange- the color of the peel of a ripe orange, orange.

Slate-.- with a gray-black tint (eg. slate blue).

Bagrovo-.- with a dark, deep red tint (eg. crimson-gold).

Crimson- deep red, bloody color.

Scarlet- cm. Crimson.

Beige- light brown, with a cream (yellowish) or grayish tint.

Belyoso-.- with a dull light shade (eg. whitish gray).

Whitish- dull white, whitish.

Blond- light brown, with light brown hair.

White- the color of snow or chalk.

Colorless- having no color.

Turquoise- turquoise, bluish-green colors.

Blanzhevy- flesh-colored ( outdated .).

Pale-.- pale color, pale shade (eg. pale green).

Pale- lightly colored.

Faded.- lacking brightness, dull (eg. faded lilac).

Faded- lacking freshness and brightness of color, dull.

Brilliantly-.- with shine (eg. brilliant green).

Brilliant- sparkling, with a bright shine.

Burgundy- cm. Bordeaux.

Bronze-.- with a bronze tint (eg. bronze-olive).

Bronze- bronze color. golden brown.

Lingonberry- deep pink, the color of ripening lingonberries.

Bulany- light yellow, slightly grayish ( about the colors of horses).

Buro-.- with a brown tint (eg. brown-yellow).

Brown- grayish-brown or grayish-red; black with a reddish or brownish tint ( about the colors of horses; about coat color).

Busy- gray, smoky, dirty gray.

Cornflower— cornflower blue, bright blue, light blue.

Vishnevo-.- with a cherry tint (eg. cherry red).

Cherry- the color of ripe cherry, dark red (with a lilac tint).

Raven- raven-colored, shiny black, black with a shiny sheen.

Voronoi- black ( about the colors of horses).

Wax (transfer.) - pale yellow to transparency (eg. wax face).

In apples- with dark round small spots on the coat, for example. dapple gray (about the colors of horses).

Hyacinth- hyacinth color, red or golden orange.

Bay- reddish-red, with black tail and mane ( about the colors of horses).

Blue- sky colors, light blue ( one of the main colors V).

Pea- the color of ripe peas, grayish-yellow with a green tint.

Mustard- mustard-colored, yellowish-brown.

Pomegranate- garnet colors, cherry red, dark red.

Thick-.- cm. Dense-flowered(eg. deep green).

Dense-flowered- having a rich, dense color.

Smoky-.- with a light gray tint (eg. smoky gray).

Smoky- smoke colors, grayish, light gray.

Yolk- egg yolk color, deep yellow.

Yellow-.- with a yellow tint (eg. yellow-golden).

Yellow- gold color ( one of the primary colors).

Pearl-.- with a brilliant white tint (eg. pearl white).

Pearl- pure white with a pearl-like shine.

Withered- lost freshness, brightness.

Zekry- blue; turquoise; blue-eyed ( outdated .).

Green-.- with a green tint (eg. green-brown).

Green- grass colors ( one of the primary colors).

Earthy.- with a grayish-pale tint (eg. earthy gray).

Earthy- earth-colored, grayish-pale ( about complexion).

Strawberry- strawberry color, pinkish-red.

Golden-.- with a golden hue (eg. golden white).

Golden- gold color, with a golden tint.

Gold- gold color, brilliant yellow.

Igrenius- cm. Igreneviy.

Igreneviy- red, with a light mane and tail ( about the colors of horses).

Izhelta-.- with a yellow tint (eg. yellow-red).

Izzelena-.- with a green tint (eg. green-brown).

Emerald- emerald color, bright green.

Issera-.- with a gray tint (eg. issera blue).

Issisa-.- with a bluish tint (eg. issis blue).

Blue-.- with a blue tint (eg. blue-black).

Ischerna-.- with a black tint (eg. deep purple).

Canary- the color of a canary's plumage, light yellow.

Karakovy- dark bay with tan marks ( about the colors of horses).

Brown- dark brown ( about eye color and color of horses).

Carmine- cm. Carmine.

Kauriy- light chestnut, yellow-red ( about the colors of horses).

Chestnut- the color of ripe chestnut, light brown, reddish-brown.

Boiling white- cm. Boiled.

Boiled- colors boiling(white foam that appears when boiling).

Brick-.- with a reddish-brown tint (eg. brick brown).

Brick- red brick color, reddish brown.

Strawberry- strawberry colors, deep pink, rose-red.

Cranberry- cranberry color, dark red.

Cobalt- cm. Cobalt.

Coral-.- with a coral tint (eg. coral brown).

Coral- colors of red coral, light red, bright red.

Brown-.- with a brown tint (eg. brown-red).

Brown- the color of a ripe acorn, brownish-yellow.

Coffee- the color of burnt coffee beans, dark brown.

Cochineal- cm. Cochineal.

Mottled- speckled, speckled, spotted in color.

Red-.- with a red tint (eg. red-brown).

Red- blood color ( one of the primary colors).

Creamy-.- with a creamy tint (eg. creamy white).

Cream- pale yellow, white with an orange (or yellowish) tint.

Bloody.- with a bloody tint.

Bloody- the color of blood, bright red.

Vat- bright blue, deep blue, colors indigo.

Azure- colors azure, blue.

Azure- colors azure.

Azure-.- with an azure tint (eg. azure blue).

Azure- colors azure.

Brass- brass color, golden.

Lily- delicate and white, like a lily.

Lilac-.- With lilac shade(eg. lilac-red).

Lilac- violet or lilac color, light purple.

Lemon yellow- cm. Citric.

Citric- lemon color, light yellow.

Faded- faded, lost color.

Malachite- malachite color, bright green.

Malinovo-. with a raspberry tint (eg. raspberry red).

Crimson- raspberry color, dark red, deep red with a purple tint.

Marengo- black with a gray tint.

Matte.- with a matte shade (eg. matte white).

Matte- without shine or gloss.

Copper-.- with a copper tint (eg. copper yellow).

Copper- having the color of copper. reddish-yellow with a shiny tint.

Honey-.- with a golden yellow tint (eg. honey yellow).

Honey- honey-colored, golden yellow, amber.

Deathly pale- pale to blue ( about complexion).

Milky-.- with a milky tint (eg. milky cream).

Lactic- milk-colored, bluish-white.

Moire- having a color with a wavy tint.

Murugiya- reddish-brown; brown-black ( about the color of dogs).

Mukhorty- bay with yellowish tan markings ( about the colors of horses).

Mousey— mouse colors, gray ( about the colors of animals).

Mouse— mouse colors, gray.

Fiery- the color of fire, orange-red.

Olive-.- with an olive tint (eg. olive green).

Olive- olive-colored, yellow-green with a brownish tint.

Opal— opal color, milky blue.

Orange- orange-colored, yellow with a reddish tint, reddish-yellow ( one of the primary colors).

awesome- cm. Ocher.

Ocher-.- with a yellowish-red tint (eg. ocher-golden).

Ocher- ocher color, yellowish-red.

Ocher- cm. Ocher.

Ocher- cm. Ocher.

Pale yellow- pale yellow with pink tint, dull yellow.

Piebald- spotted, motley, with large spots ( about the colors of animals, about the plumage of birds).

Ash-.- with an ashy tint (eg. ash blue).

Ashen- grayish-gray, smoky ( more often - about hair color).

Pearl- reminiscent of the color of mother-of-pearl, iridescent, silvery-pink.

Peach- peach-colored, yellowish-red.

Sand- sand color. brownish yellow.

Sexual- chaff colors, pale yellow ( about the colors of animals).

Porphyry- crimson, purple.

Crimson- bright red, crimson.

Purple- bright red, scarlet, crimson with a violet tint.

Purple- cm. Purple.

Rdyanyi- red, scarlet ( outdated .).

Redry- red, red-yellow ( about cattle).

Rusty- rust color, red-brown.

Pinkish- pale pink, with a pink tint.

Ruby- ruby ​​color, blood red, deep red.

Ore yellow- yellow with a reddish tint, red.

Rudoy- red; blood red; ginger.

Rosy- scarlet, red.

Light brown- fair-haired; light brown ( about hair color).

Savrasy- light bay with yellowish tint, with black mane and tail ( about the colors of horses).

Salad- the color of lettuce leaves, pale green.

Light green- cm. Salad.

Sugar white- white as sugar; pure white.

Sugar- sugar color, very white.

Light-.- light shade (eg. light blue).

Light- less bright in color, pale.

Lead- blue-black with a gloomy tint.

Gray-haired- white, whitish, dull gray.

Silver-.- With silvery tint(eg. silver white).

Silver- silver-colored, shimmering silver, with a silver tint.

Silver- silver color, grayish-white with shine.

Grey-.- with a gray tint (eg. gray-green).

Gray-brown-raspberry- indefinite color ( joke .).

Grey- the color of ash, smoke (the color that is obtained from mixing black With white).

Gray- grayish-gray ( about the colors of horses); gray-haired, with gray hair.

Sizo-.— with a bluish tint (eg. dove-green).

Gray- dark gray with a thick bluish tint.

Blue-.- with a blue tint.

Blue- dark blue ( one of the primary colors).

Lilac- lilac colors, light purple, light lilac.

Smury- dark gray, dark brown.

Snow- the color of snow.

Straw- straw color, light yellow.

Solovy- yellowish, with a light tail and mane ( about the colors of horses).

Somon- pinkish yellow ( outdated .).

Steel— steel colors, light gray with a tint, silver-white.

Tagashovy- cm. Tagashiny.

Tagashiny- blue ( outdated .).

Bodily- the color of the human body, pale pink.

Dark-.- dark shade (eg. dark green).

Dark- color close to black.

Tugashevy- cm. Tagashiny.

Dim-.- with a faint tint (eg. dull green).

Dim— matte, not shiny; weak, not bright.

Violet- violet color, light purple.

Violet- violet colors, blue with a reddish tint, lilac ( one of the primary colors).

Pistachio-.- With pistachio shade(eg. pistachio gray).

Pistachio- pistachio color, light green.

Khaki- brownish-green with gray.

Zinc- zinc-colored, bluish-white.

roan piebald- mixed colors - roan and piebald; roan with white spots ( about the colors of animals).

Roan- gray with splashes ( about the colors of horses).

Chankiryi- light, white; a horse of gray (white, piebald) color with a white muzzle and white hooves.

Chervleny- crimson, dark red color ( outdated .).

Chervonny- red, scarlet ( outdated .).

Chermny- crimson, dark red ( outdated .).

Inky- ink color, dark purple.

Black- the darkest existing color, the color of soot, coal.

Cherchatyi- red ( outdated .).

Purely-.- pure tone, without any impurities (eg. pure red).

Chubary- with dark spots on light fur or even with spots of other fur ( about the colors of horses).

Saffron- saffron-colored, reddish-yellow, yellow-orange with a brown tint.

Saffron- cm. Saffron.

Electrician- blue, blue with a gray tint.

Yubagry- crimson, light crimson; light blue ( outdated .).

Poisonous.- unpleasantly harsh (eg. poisonous green).

Amber-.- with an amber tint (eg. amber orange).

Amber- amber color, transparent yellow.

Bright- sharp in purity and freshness of tone.

Bright.- with a sharp tint (eg. bright red).

Clear-.- pure light tone (eg. clear green).

Clear- light, bright, shining.

Alabaster stone is ancient and famous. His name is a tribute to the Egyptian goddess of joy, Bast. Its purpose is turned vases and home decorations. Translucent alabaster, glowing in the rays of the sun, was considered a sign of a rich home thousands of years ago.

Actually, the mineral alabaster is gypsum, but the whitest and hardest variety. Terminological confusion arose in ancient times: Theophrastus called chalk gypsum, and alabaster was isolated as a separate mineral. However, in our time, both gypsum and alabaster are one and the same, aqueous calcium sulfate CaSO42H2O. This is chemical formula alabaster, pure, without impurities, often found in natural stone deposits.

In language practice different nations Astringent is also called alabaster construction material based on gypsum, and travertine, and marl, and even marble. Such ambiguity is difficult to avoid, since the popularity of the material dates back several millennia.

History of the use of alabaster

Pliny began to write a poetic history of the extraction and use of alabaster. The famous Jewish historian spoke about the mineral alabastrite, mined in Egyptian Alabastra and Syrian Damascus. At that time, household containers and lamps were carved from white translucent stone.

Small vessels for oil made from the white mineral turned out to be the most successful. That is why the name of the stone was transferred to them and stuck with them. Alabastar in ancient times was called a capacious bottle with a narrow neck.

A small alabaster made during the time of Artaxerxes (as reported by a carved inscription on the side of the vessel) was found all the way in the Urals. The ruins of the Knossos Palace on the island of Crete are a thousand years older than the Ural find. Here natural alabaster was used as a finishing material for office premises.

Tall, narrow-necked alabaster vases are kept in the Moscow Pushkin Museum. Carved three thousand years before the advent of the new era, they amaze with their fineness of work and artistic expressiveness.

The desire to use white stone for carving candlesticks and oil lamps explained by the physical properties of alabaster. The incorrect light of a dim flame makes translucent or translucent material play with shadows and come to life. In the era of information hunger of past eras, alabaster lamps staged entire home shadow theater performances.

The composition of alabaster determines its properties

Alabaster differs from simple gypsum in the cryptocrystalline nature of the rock mass. Solid fibrous formations with a microscopic cross-section penetrate the thickness of the mineral. This structure provides both sufficient strength and noticeable light transmission of the stone.

The composition of alabaster often includes impurities that tint the mass and decorate the stone with patterns. The silky sheen of the surface, lunar glow, and faint pearlescent appearance of alabaster are often associated with loss of moisture by the mineral.

Dehydrated alabaster goes into the category of anhydrites, but usually increases external expressiveness. Direct contact of dehydrated alabaster with water leads to an increase in the volume of the product, which is fraught with the appearance of cracks in the walls.

Colorless and colored varieties of alabaster are widely found and have been in high demand from time immemorial. Snow-white pure stone from the outskirts of Pisa still provides work for stone carvers.

The somewhat less presentable “Zhiguli marble” is used to make salt shakers and ashtrays, night lights and candlesticks. Patterned alabaster of various natural colors is mined in Ukraine. Reddish and greenish alabasters, colored with salts of non-ferrous metals, are found in areas close to mineral deposits.

Alabaster: properties, parameters, processing practice

Alabaster is famous for its pliability and receptivity to the efforts of the master. The hardness of alabaster is low and does not exceed 2 points on the Mohs scale. The mineral density is 2.33 g/cm3. The ability to be translucent creates favorable conditions for fine processing with careful detailing and deep elaboration of ornamental details.

Alabaster, the color of which fits into the palette of traditional jewelry, is used to make beads. More complex products for wearing on clothing are not used due to the low strength of the stone.

Processing soft mineral is not difficult even for novice craftsmen. However, grinding and finishing of alabaster products requires special care. Practice has shown that only mother-of-pearl powder provides high quality polishing for alabaster.

Varieties of alabaster unsuitable for stone cutting are used in industry. Heat treatment and grinding of natural stone provide builders and physicians with an excellent fast-hardening binder.

Alabaster jewelry

The importance of alabaster as a mineral for making jewelry has not decreased over the past millennia. If the Egyptian pharaohs and Greek kings decorated their homes mainly with alabaster vases, today less pretentious interior items are in favor.

The alabaster in the photo in the illustrations for our article is represented by both interesting geological samples and works of stone-cutting art. However, it is necessary to distinguish between stucco crafts made of alabaster and sculptures that came out from under the master’s chisel. Even alabaster tumbling, collected into inexpensive bracelets and necklaces, is more impressive than template-cast figures.

Alabaster jewelry is especially expressive. The bracelet, composed of cream-colored beads interspersed with balls of gold wire, looks fresh, bold and weighty. Cabochon-cut colored alabaster is transformed into attractive inserts for rings, earrings and pendants. Exquisite carved miniatures, not intended for wearing, replenish the collections of connoisseurs of the pristine freshness of native alabaster.

Multi-tiered chandeliers with shades carved from monolithic alabaster are very expensive, but extremely impressive. Such products are especially appropriate in ceremonial double-height rooms decorated in classical styles.

Previous article: Flint

How to choose colors that complement your skin tone

Before making a wardrobe change, buying a wedding dress, or purchasing an outfit for another special occasion, it's helpful to know how to choose colors that complement your skin tone. A poorly chosen color will make your skin and hair appear dull, but the right color will make you look more impressive and brighter. Our article will help you determine your skin tone and tell you how to choose clothes, jewelry, cosmetics and hair color that go with it. Let your beauty come to life and shine!

Steps Edit

Part 1 of 2: Determine Your Skin Tone Edit

Find out what skin tones are. Although there are countless shades, there are only two basic types: warm and cool. Warm color faces tend towards yellow, cold ones - towards pink. Your skin may be lighter or darker depending on the intensity of your tan (whether you tan on purpose or just spend a lot of time outdoors), but its tone remains constant.

Examine your veins. The skin on the wrists, elbows and temples is very thin, and the blood vessels are close to its surface. If your skin is fair enough, veins will be visible in these three places.

• If your veins have an olive or greenish tint, your skin tone is warm.
• If the veins are bluish, your skin tone is cool.
• If you find it hard to tell or see both shades, your skin tone is neutral.

Do the test with a piece of white paper. The skin on your face often has a reddish tint that makes you think your skin tone is cool, but this redness can be caused by female hormones or the sun. Therefore, you should check the skin on the neck and chest, and not on the face.

• Hold a blank piece of white paper to your neck and chest.
• See what color your skin takes next to pure white.
• Blue and pink shades indicate a cool tone.
• Greenish and golden shades indicate a warm tone.
• If the tone is neutral, it can look different depending on your tan and the time of year.

Take the Jewelry Test. Again, you don't want it on your face, so don't use earrings. Instead, get chains or bracelets - you'll need gold and silver ones. Apply them to the skin one at a time in sufficient natural light and notice how the skin tone visually changes.

• Which metal makes your skin look brighter and healthier next to it?
• If gold suits you better, you have a warm tone.
• If silver suits you better, you have a cool tone.

Consider your reaction to the sun. People with cool skin tones burn more easily, while those with warm skin tones are not prone to sunburn and tan better.

• Don't stay in the sun for long to see if you burn or tan!
• Instead, remember past experiences. If you have unpleasant memories of sunburn, you probably have a cold tone. If you don't burn at all, then your tone is definitely warm.
• If you don't burn but don't get very dark, or if your sunburn heals quickly and turns into a healthy tan, then your tone is most likely neutral.

Determine your color type. Although you already know whether your tone is warm or cool, each of these categories is divided into two subtypes. “Summer” and “winter” are cold color types, “spring” and “autumn” are warm.

• “Summer”: the skin has a bluish, reddish or pink tint during the test with a white sheet; The contrast between hair and eye color and skin tone is soft.
• “Winter”: the skin has a bluish, reddish or pink tint during the test with a white sheet; skin color contrasts sharply with hair and eye color (for example, pale skin and black hair).
• "Spring": the skin has a golden, creamy or peach hue during the white sheet test; this type often has wheat or light red hair, freckles, pink blush, and blue or green eyes.
• "Autumn": The skin has a warm golden or yellowish tint during the white sheet test.

Find out which colors go with every skin tone. Some colors suit everyone, so regardless of your color type, you can try bright red, pale pink, deep purple or teal.

Choose clothes according to your skin tone. It is not necessary to strive for everything to fit perfectly with it, as this will significantly limit the palette available to you. However, you should choose a set of basic shades that complement your complexion well, and use others as complements or bright accents to diversify your wardrobe.

• “Summer”: choose lilac, pale blue, pastels and neutral colors with a hint of pink. Soft colors suit you better than rich ones.
• “Winter”: choose blue and pink shades, as well as sharp colors - white, black, dark blue.
• “Spring”: choose yellow and orange shades, for example, peach, coral, ocher.
• “Autumn”: choose warm, deep colors such as coffee, caramel, beige, tomato red, green.

Choose jewelry that matches your skin tone. Remember the “jewelry test” that used to determine whether you were cool or warm in tone? Now, knowing which metals make your skin look brighter and healthier next to it, try to wear more jewelry made from them.

• Cool tones: “summer” should wear silver and white gold, “winter” – silver and platinum.
• Warm colors: “spring” should wear gold, “autumn” - gold, bronze or copper.

Use cosmetics that complement your complexion. Foundation and concealer (corrector) should always match your skin tone as closely as possible. Concealer for dark circles under the eyes should be chosen one tone lighter than the skin to lighten these dark circles. dark areas. Remember that your complexion may change over the course of the year due to exposure to the sun, so choose your different means for different seasons.

• Very fair skin: If your skin can be described as “alabaster” or “porcelain,” light pinks, tans, and beige shades, but orange-red tones should be avoided. Lipstick in natural colors or peach is perfect for every day, for special occasions– spectacular bright red. Avoid makeup in gray tones, pale, “frosty” eye shadows, as with them your face will seem to have lost its color.
• Skin of medium tone, closer to light: use cosmetics in yellowish shades, as well as pearlescent or with gold particles.
• Medium skin tone, closer to dark: makeup in a wide variety of colors suits you, from bright and catchy colors to pastel and muted ones. Experiment and choose what you like best.
• Dark Skin: Use rich metallic tones such as copper or bronze to highlight your natural tone. Bright berry shades will look great on the cheeks and lips. Avoid cosmetics pale flowers, which seems faded on you.

Change your hair color to make your face sparkle. This step is more drastic and long-term than changing clothes or makeup, so think carefully before coloring your hair. Change their color to make your face look brighter and fresher.

• Warm-toned skin with yellowish or golden undertones: choose deep brown tones such as chestnut or mahogany; Copper-red is good for individual strands and highlights.
• Cool-toned skin with bluish or pink undertones: Contrasting colors suit you, so choose a rich color - chestnut, red or light.
• Very ruddy, reddish skin: it will be shaded with beige, honey and golden tones.

Alabaster, milky, amianth and other shades of white

Types of creativity

Different types of creativity

Today we’ll talk about white color and its shades. What is this “simple”? White color?

White color is a synthesis of all other colors, which is why it is often called “ideal.” White color is the fusion of all the colors of the rainbow. It has the highest brightness, hue - 0. This color, completely similar in spectrum to the color of the sun, cannot be obtained by mixing various other primary colors and shades.

White has long become a symbol of many events, things, objects, signs that are known all over the world. At first it is calming, but after a certain time it begins to tire.

Portraying pure white has always been problematic. Yes, the artists did not want this: against the background of a blank canvas, such a palette would be inappropriate. Therefore, they mixed warm or cool shades and obtained different variations of whitish color.

Various pigments that produce white color :

• zinc white;
• white lead;
• titanium white;
• barite white;
• zinc sulfide;
• lime;
• kaolin;
• alabaster;
• marble.

Each color on the color spectrum has its own shades. The white one also has them. This:

Alabaster- yellowish-white with a matte tint.

Amyanthus- whitish, off-white. The name comes from a variety of asbestos, amiantha.

"Abdel-Kader's Beard". or " Abdel-Kerim's beard"- material of white color with a black tint and a gray tint.

Beige- a dark shade of white with a creamy or grayish tint.

Whitish- whitish, dull white.

Snow-white- bright white, the color of snow.

Pearl- pearl color.

Marengo- gray with splashes of black. Marengo-clair - light gray.

Lactic- the color of milk.

Cloudy- cloud colors.

Platinum- smoky white, platinum metal color.

Grey- an admixture of black, dark to white. The shades of gray are different.

For computer graphics and design, the following colors of white are used:

Cosmic latte - #FFF8E7

Ivory - #FFFFF0

Old Lace - #FDF5E6

Sea shell color - #FFF5EE

Alice blue - #F0F8FF

Matte white - #F2F3F4

Antique White - #FAEBD7

Mint cream - #F5FFFA

Honeydew - #F0FFF0

It is very difficult to convey the entire palette of shades using a computer, but I still provide a picture that at least approximately illustrates what has been said:

This is how “simple” and mysterious, unique and varied white color is. I hope you found the article useful and practical.

Thank you for your attention! Always with you.

Keywords

Alabaster. Description, properties and colors of alabaster stone

General description of alabaster

Alabaster is one of the varieties of gypsum, the hardest. It is usually white in color, but this mineral is also found in pink and greenish tints. The shine is silky. It must be said that alabaster is most highly valued peach color. Translucent figures made from it seem to glow from within and look very beautiful.

Other names for alabaster and its varieties are olbastre, Roman pearl, alabaster, lubaster and alabaster.

The main deposits of this mineral are located in countries such as Germany (Thuringia), USA (Colorado), along the shores of the Persian Gulf, Italy (Tuscany), England (Derbshire), France (Paris Basin), etc. Alabaster looks like an opaque stone with translucent ribs. In ancient times, microcrystalline limestone was also classified as alabaster. It should be noted that this mineral is not of great value. Although alabaster is a precious stone, it ranks one of the last in this series. It is classified as a third-order semi-precious stone, i.e. the lowest.

It should be noted that in Greece in ancient times the name alabaster was given to a small pear-shaped bottle that was used to store perfumes and ointments.

Application of alabaster

Alabaster is a soft stone. It is very easy to process, so it has traditionally been very popular among sculptors. This mineral is most often used for carving various figures and figurines. They can be easily polished using sandpaper. And wax is usually used to achieve the final gloss. Alabaster has a high degree of porosity, which makes it easy to paint. Products made from alabaster are characterized by increased fragility. You need to handle them carefully, because when dropped they break easily, and you can even scratch them with your fingernail.

Jewelers do not use this stone very often. Usually only beads are made from it.

This mineral is also used for household and construction purposes. It is often used during construction, as well as for the purpose of manufacturing and repairing products. After all, alabaster can act as a binding component between contacting surfaces. The use of alabaster makes it possible, for example, to easily correct all existing unevenness in walls and ceilings; it is also excellent for sealing seams and cracks. Among the main chemical properties This mineral can be distinguished by its excellent sound insulation, water resistance and ability to quickly gain density. In addition, alabaster is a natural mineral. Therefore, it is absolutely safe from an environmental point of view and is an inexpensive material, which is also important. However, you need to remember that you should not use alabaster in rooms with high humidity. And to increase its waterproofing properties, you can coat it with paint pastes.

The healing properties of alabaster

In ancient times, healers used alabaster to treat diseases of the liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, stomach and pancreas. Manuscripts have survived to this day that describe how this treatment took place. Alabaster was applied to the area of ​​the diseased organ and fixed to the body using cotton or woolen fabric. You should wear this mineral on yourself until complete healing.

Ancient healers also placed pieces of alabaster in medicinal drinks. This was done so that the stone would enhance the healing properties of the drug.

You can massage with balls made from this mineral.. It is believed to help reduce heart rate and also help heal eczema and some other skin diseases. If pieces of alabaster are applied to the throat area, it will help with an asthma attack. And, if you apply pieces of alabaster to your temples, then you can weaken headache. It is believed that red varieties of alabaster can relieve various inflammations.

The magical properties of alabaster

In ancient times, this stone was often used to carve figurines of gods, sacrificial animals, as well as ritual bowls, temple lamps and other similar paraphernalia.

The ancient Egyptians placed objects made of alabaster in the tomb of the pharaoh. These items were supposed to imitate things that served the ruler during his lifetime and were especially dear to him. The sarcophagi themselves were also cut out of it. In Egypt they believed that alabaster had unusual properties. It was believed that symbols painted on its surface could store sacred information and would help bring secret desires to life.

If you dream of a product made of alabaster, then this person will soon win in a gambling game.

There was a belief that alabaster was sent to people by the gods to serve as an example of the fragility and vulnerability of human life. This stone was considered a powerful amulet, protecting its owner from the wrath of the gods and influential persons.

If you wear alabaster as a talisman, it will protect its owner from external negative energy, will help him avoid dissatisfaction with his superiors, suggest right decisions. If a product made from this mineral is broken or lost, then you should not be upset. On the contrary, this will mean that the talisman has warded off some kind of misfortune from its owner. Alabaster helps to find peace of mind and look at the situation as if from the outside.

Alabaster is believed to have an effect on throat chakra. This chakra controls the respiratory and hearing organs, as well as the skin.

Alabaster in astrology

The low degree of strength makes alabaster practically unsuitable for making jewelry. Usually only beads are made from it. Astrologers recommend wearing such beads to those born under the signs of Water and Air. But for representatives of the signs of Fire and Earth, although this stone will not harm, it will not bring any benefit either, but will become an ordinary decoration for them.

Varieties of alabaster

It should be noted that alabaster refers to two different minerals. gypsum (calcium diaquasulfate) and calcite (calcium carbonate). Their main difference is relative hardness. Gypsum is very soft and can be easily scratched and broken, but calcite has a higher degree of hardness, but it can also be scratched with a knife. Calcite alabaster is a carbonate, so it reacts actively with hydrochloric acid. But gypsum alabaster will not react.

Calcite alabaster is mentioned in the Bible under the name Eastern alabaster. Indeed, in those days, products made from this stone were brought from Far East. The history of the origin of the name of this stone still remains unclear. Most likely, it has Arabic roots.

Calcite alabaster is a material of stalagmite deposits in limestone caves. These deposits are located on the floor and walls of caves. Gypsum alabaster is widespread these days. Today we use the term “alabaster” without specification, because we are always talking only about gypsum alabaster. Mining of this mineral is now carried out in many countries around the world.