Calcite dusted with Pyrite (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

The Sokolovskoe Iron Mine in Kazakhstan is well-known for producing some iconic Calcite specimens dating back to the 1990s. Typically, the Calcites from this mine are gemmy golden rhombs, but THIS piece is a much more different example featuring attractive white "dogtooth"-shaped scalenohedral crystals which are dusted with sparkling, metallic, golden Pyrite. The largest Calcite measures about 3.1 cm long. Very little damage, and it's quite showy for what it is. You'd never expect to see a Calcite like this from the Sokolovskoe Mine, and if you collect worldwide Calcites, this is a great piece to add to your collection for its esoteric quality and visual beauty. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #21848CL. 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.