Andalusite (var: Chiastolite) (uncommon locality) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

A cool old-time specimen of Chiastolite, which is defined as a variety of Andalusite with cross-shaped inclusions of carbon. There are many localities around the world where this material is found, but you almost never see specimens from California. Like most of the specimens from this locality, this piece has been sliced to show the cross section growth with the dark black carbon inclusions creating a diamond-shaped growth. A beautiful example of this classic material, seldom seen in today's market. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #2157CL. Chet was born 1947 in started collecting minerals circa 1957. He worked briefly as a drill runner at the famous Sterling Mine, in Ogdensburg, New Jersey and from 1987 to 1990 he helped convert the mine into a public access mining museum. He has held the role of treasurer, vice president and president of the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society (FOMS), and has been a board member and vice president of the Franklin Mineral Museum. The rare copper arsenate, Lemanskiite was named in his honor in 1999.