Alabaster in West Texas?

[Thatch]

I have been thinking of trying out some alabaster as a 1st attempt at stone carving. From doing a bit of research on line I have found that alabaster is found on the edge of gypsum deposits. One of the largest deposits of gyp is at Acme just west of Quanah, Tx up by the panhandle. Has anybody looked into this?

Thatch

[jim#1]

Hi, I am a geologist and have seen alabaster in highway road cuts on the highway going north out of snyder on highway 208. Continue north of claremont roughly 10 miles, white alabaster is in road cuts near the south side of the small river. The alabaster is REALLY WHITE, and stands out clearly from the reddish enclosing rock. I have not tried evaluating it for carving purposes so you are on your own as far as the quality of the stuff goes. The bed of alabaster is at least a foot thick and if you take a bar and a hammer for heavy collecting work you should be able to get a couple of hundred pounds with a certain degree of effort. If you have a cordless hammer drill and car charger this is the spot to use it. I assume that collecting rock on highway right of way will not cause problems but that is up to you. The bed of alabaster outcrops over a large area and is visible on the ranch land around the highway. You might try talking to the ranch owners and offering them a sculpture in payment for the right to quarry a couple of hundred pounds of rock. They might take you up on it.

I know a spot up on CP Hill in New Mexico, where there are 1-2 foot long blades of clear selenite (crystallized gypsum) aka alabaster, they might provide a source of transparent material however this spot is on private property and you would have to contact the landowner and get permission. I have not been there in 15 years so I dont have the contact into. This spot is within sight of Carlesbad Caverns park--- admittedly with the clear air and such- you can see a looong way.

Incidently the castile formation outcrops around the area there and it is composed of thin 1-3mm lamina composed of layers of limestone and gypsum. It gives the rock a nifty (technical term) banded look, which on reflection, might make a interesting material for sculpture. The weathered rock is crud because the gypsum turns to white powder. The best place to get some would be in a quarry somewhere.

I tried to get a smiley face to go in this but i dont know how to get it inserted!

Best Regards

Jim

[jim#1]

sorry about the double post will the moderator please remove one? I dont know how i did that. Also, on reflection, the alabaster could have been between snyder and clairmont instead of north of clarement on highway 208. I did stop and look at it once. Take heavy collecting equipment. I am not shure that digging on highway right of way is legal. What you do is up to you.


Jim

[jerez]

That supply of alabaster in Snyder has been used by a sculpting instructor in San Angelo at Angelo State University. You might get in touch with him to find out how to access it.

John Vinklarek is his name. :p

If you get some please send me some in Seattle;):p:)

[mbuckley52]

Does anyone know if it is still there?

I would love to make a day trip from Fort Worth and get a few large blocks for turning

thanks
mbuckley52