Stone sculpture stone carving. Alabaster and softer kinds of serpentine, all about 3 on the Mohs scale, are more durable than soapstone. Alabaster, in particular, has long been cherished for its translucence. Limestone and sandstone, at about 4 on the Mohs scale, are the only sedimentary stones commonly carved. Limestone comes in a popular oolitic variety, about twice as hard as alabaster, that is excellent for carving. The harder serpentines can also reach 4 on the Mohs scale. Marble, travertine, and onyx are at about 6 on the Mohs scale. Marble has been the preferred stone for sculptors in the European tradition
Anamosa Limestone Anamosa Limestone Anamosa Limestone or Anamosa Member is a dolomitic limestone quarried out of Stone City, Iowa, which is located along the Wapsipinicon River about two miles west of Anamosa, Iowa. It is distinguished by its uniform texture, color, and banding, its durability and most of all by its distinct planar and undulating varve–like laminations. This distinctive stone forms part of the Gower Formation, the youngest Silurian strata in Iowa. The Gower is overlain unconformably by a mid–Devonian formation. The color classification is Buff, which is described as a warm shade of light to moderate gold. Anamosa Limestone has been