Alabaster is a great option for beginners, with a hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale. It is known for its translucent quality. The small stones can be treated with just sandpaper. The large stones will be filed first and then finished with sandpaper and wax.
The large stones can be made smaller with an old wood saw. Due to the transparency of the stone, this is excellent for the making of crystalline forms for geology lessons.
