SPECIAL MINERAL AUCTION - THE COLLECTION of CHET LEMANSKI - ends October 22, 2020

From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. (born 1947) of Browns Mills, New Jersey  (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html).  Chet started collecting minerals in his early teen years circa 1957.  He worked briefly as a drill runner at the famous Sterling Mine, in Ogdensburg, New Jersey before he was drafted into the military.  After making the military his career, he returned to the world of minerals when he helped convert the Sterling Mine into a public access mining museum from 1987 to 1990.  Later he held the role of treasurer, vice president and president of the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society (FOMS), along with serving as a board member and vice president of the Franklin Mineral Museum.  After retiring, Chet became one of the most prolific contributor, moderator, and advisor on mindat.org.  The rare hydrated sodium calcium copper arsenate, Lemanskiite was named in his honor in 1999. 

Over the years, Chet's combined collections of worldwide minerals and fluorescent specimens totaled over 24,000 pieces.  He also has an extensive collection of geo-literature and possesses one of the most extensive reference (not antiquarian items of anecdotal value) libraries in private hands, comprising thousands of pounds and hundreds of linear feet of publications. 

We are honored to present the prefatory offering of these treasures from this incredibly diverse collection from a previous era.  Stay tuned as we will be slowly rolling out specimens on a regular basis in the auctions.