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
Javier (name) leader of the fictional X-Men, however it is not incorrect to pronounce it this was when considering its Basque origin or that many 'X' words derive in English from the Greek phonetics, which pronounce it as a 'Ks' sound. Javier (name) Javier () is the Spanish spelling of the masculine name Xavier. The name derives from the Catholic Saint called Francis de Xavier, where "Xavier" refers to the saint's birthplace. This birthplace name, in turn, has Basque roots, etymologically originating in the word "etxaberri" ("etxe berri" in standard spelling), meaning "castle" or "new house". The original place name went through