Crossword Genius

Are basalt rocks gypsum? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alabaster

'gypsum?' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'are basalt rocks' is the wordplay.
'rocks' indicates anagramming the letters.
'are'+'basalt'='arebasalt'
'arebasalt' anagrammed gives 'ALABASTER'.

(Other definitions for alabaster that I've seen before include "Translucent white gypsum as found carved into ornaments" , "Stab a real odd white mineral" , "White mineral used for carving" , "Arabs tale (anag.)" , "Type of gypsum" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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