6802.91.30.00 - Alabaster

This HTS subcategory specifically encompasses alabaster, a fine-grained, usually white gypsum or calcite, which is often translucent and easily carved. It is characterized by its softness and susceptibility to damage, making it distinct from other stones. Alabaster has been historically used for ornamental objects, statuary, and decorative architectural elements due to its workability and aesthetic appeal.

Unlike its sibling categories, "Marble" and "Travertine," which are also natural stones but possess different geological compositions, hardness, and visual characteristics, this classification is exclusively for alabaster. Marble is typically a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite, while travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, particularly hot springs. The distinguishing feature of alabaster is its gypsum or calcite composition and its often creamy white or banded appearance, along with its relative softness compared to marble or travertine.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subcategories. Classification at this level focuses on identifying the material as alabaster, based on its physical properties and material composition. For import or export purposes, confirming the material's identity as alabaster, rather than a similar-looking but differently classified stone, is the primary classification determinant.