Al'abaster, a name applied to a granular variety of gypsum. It was much used by the ancients for the manufacture of ointment and perfume boxes, vases and the like. It is usually of a pure white color and is so soft that it can be scratched with the thumb nail. It is found in many parts of Europe, in great abundance and of peculiarly excellent quality in Tuscany. From the finer and more compact kinds, vases, clock-stands, statuettes and other ornamental articles are made, and from inferior kinds the cement known as plaster of Paris. A variety of carbonate of lime, closely resembling alabaster in appearance, used for similar purposes under the name of Oriental alabaster, is found in caves in the form of stalactites or stalagmites. It may be distinguished from true alabaster by being too hard to be scratched with the nail.