[Rockhounds] Selenite

[Dennis Buffenmyer]

Earl R. Verbeek wrote:
> 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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>>>       
>>
>>     
>
>   
the 8th edition of Dana's New Mineralogy states;
"Gypsum group. Synonyms: gips, selenite."
"Varieties: (1) crystallized, or selenite- distinct crystals or broad 
folia, transparent; (2) fibrous or satin spar- aggregates with a 
parallel fibrous structure, often translucent with the pearly opalesence 
of moonstone; (3) massive, fine grained, often banded, or alabaster."

so based on the above.... rams horn satin spar....

but in all seriousness, is this really anything to quibble about, don't 
we all know what is being referred to here, or is this just spoiling for 
a fight.