Bournonite (classic old Mexico) James Carter Coll.

Item Description

Sharp cogwheels of beautifully iridescent metallic bournonite crystals are aesthetically intergrown on this outstanding sculptural miniature from the well-known polymetalic Noche Buena Mine. The exceptional crestal crystal is 1.7 cm. Mexico's finest bournonites, never commmon, along with excellent boulangerite and jamesonite come from here. These came out in the late 1970s. Ex Dr. James Carter Collection. James was a professor of Geology and former Department Chairman at the University of Texas at Dallas for 43 years until he retired in 2008. A true geoscientist, he studied and preformed research on a remarkable variety of geological aspects. NASA asked Carter to help create a material that was similar to actual lunar regolith. The lunar regolith simulant, or fake moon dirt, he deveoloped was used by NASA and other researchers for studies in support of future human activities on the moon. He passed away in 2019. We just acquired part of his collection. Read about James at: https://www.utdallas.edu/news/faculty-staff/carter-tribute-2019/. Valued at $750-1000. A classic and exceptional Noche Buena bournonite miniature.