[Rockhounds] Selenite

[Axel Emmermann]

I would second Rik's motion.
There's too much confusion about mineral names already.

Cheers
Axel

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com]
> Namens Rik Dillen
> Verzonden: dinsdag 14 oktober 2008 17:02
> Aan: everbeek at ptd.net; 'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock
and gem
> collectors'
> Onderwerp: RE: [Rockhounds] Selenite
> 
> I'm in favor of using only and exclusively the official name : gypsum.
> All the rest would better be dropped completely as it has no added value;
alternative names
> just lead to confusion. It makes no sense to use another name if the
shape, habit, luster or
> color is somewhat different.
> I have heard several times collectors asking if selenite contains
selenium, which as such is a
> relevant question, but it also reveals the confusion that alternative
names provoke.
> 
> Just my opinion...
> Grts,
> 
> Rik DILLEN
> Doornstraat 15,  B-9170 Sint-Gillis-Waas
> Belgium
> E-mail rik.dillen at skynet.be
> Homepage : http://users.skynet.be/rik.dillen
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com]
> On Behalf Of Earl R. Verbeek
> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 4:51 PM
> To: rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Selenite
> 
> A related question, but is this specimen selenite, or just gypsum?  I'd
> always understood the term "selenite" to apply only to colorless,
> transparent gypsum, but at mineral shows, especially, it seems that almost
> every gypsum specimen is labeled "selenite".  John White wrote a column
> about the overuse of the term "selenite" in a recent (several years ago?)
> column in Rocks and Minerals in his "Let's Get it Right" series, but I do
> not have access to that column at the moment.  In any event, I don't
> believe that fibrous to columnar crystals of gypsum of ram's horn habit
> conform to any strict definition of "selenite" because you can't see
> through them -- the ram's horn aggregates may be translucent, but they
> aren't transparent.  What say other members of the list?
> 
>           Cheers-   Earl
> 
> On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:45:04 -0400,  wrote:
> > John,
> >
> > I think we already did vote, and rams-horn won. But I'll stuff the
> > ballot box with a another vote for Alan's "a cluster with ram's horn
> > growth habit". Vote early, and vote often.
> >
> > Kreigh
> >
> >
> > On Monday, Oct 13, 2008, at 22:32 America/Detroit, John Siebel wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks to all for your input! Shall we vote? :-)
> >> John
> >>
> >> it's kind of somewhere in between stalactitic and trying to be a
> >> rams-horn
> >> selenite...
> >> Pete
> >>
> >> Bovicornuate.
> >> Hans
> >>
> >> I think "a cluster with ram's horn growth habit" is the best
> >> description.
> >> Alan
> >>
> >> Dendritic-bladed?
> >> Kreigh
> >>
> >> Looks like druzy curled wings.
> >> Glenn
> >>
> >> --
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> >
> >
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