Copper (527 grams) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

A dramatically sculptural, highly aesthetic, three-dimensional display specimen of Native Copper from one of the most prolific mining districts in the United States. The countless tons of Copper that poured out of Houghton County is legendary, and also provided collectors with some of the most impactful and eye-catching specimens of this native metal ever found. This cabinet sized specimen weighs in at 527 grams and displays beautifully as you can see from the photos. It actually stands completely on its own without the aid of a base or clay. Like a lot of native element specimens, a few people have commented that it resembles a dragon or a dinosaur, but you can't deny the resemblance. The piece ranges from crystalline to massive, with cavernous areas that appear to be oxidizing to bright red Cuprite. Small bits of attached matrix make for a really nice contrast. A showy and classic example of this famous material from Michigan. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #20543CL. 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.