large "Ram's horn" Selenite (old Texas classic!) ex James Carter

Item Description

A striking, stout, broad, full, 5.3 x 3.9 x 2.6 cm, rare and classic curved "Ram's horn" selenite (gypsum) crystal dramatically dominates this exceptional large specimen from Terlingua. The smaller ram's horn next the large crystal and the partial "curtain" of selenite crystals really enhance the sculptural quality of the large matrix. The large "horn" is very nearly pristine with only trivial bruising. This is a USA rams horn! You never see such pieces except in old books. Amazing for such a soft mineral. Gypsum was found in limestone caverns. The mercury mines (mostly cinnabar) opened in the 1880s and finally closed after World War II. See the 1990 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 21, No. 3. 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 performed 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 developed was used by NASA and other researchers for studies in support of future human activities on the moon. He passed away in 2019. We recently acquired part of his collection. Read about James at: https://www.utdallas.edu/news/faculty-staff/carter-tribute-2019/. This is the last of the rare Terlingua selenites we obtained from Dr. Carter's collection. How often do you see a superb old Terlingua rams horn selenite of this quality? A MUST for the Texas, species or locality collector!