Cassiterite (excellent large cyclic twins) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

Bolivia has probably produced more tin than any other country in the world. The great tin mines at Viloco (sometimes called Araca) have produced some of the most magnificent Cassiterite specimens extant. This particular specimen features superb quality, large, sharp, lustrous, cyclic twinned crystal groups of Cassiterite measuring up to 3.0 cm across, free of matrix. The color in the Cassiterite is mostly black but there are some slight gemmy amber colored areas that can be seen below the surface in strong lighting. The piece is in good shape overall, with no major damage to the top of the specimen, but it is contacted on the base where it was removed from the pocket wall. These classic specimen from Viloco are simply not seen for sale in today's market, and they are among the finest examples of crystallized Cassiterite extant. Valued at $1,250 in our inventory. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #2362CL. 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.