Ferberite (floater specimen) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

In the early 2000s, some of the finest crystallized specimens of Ferberite ever found started coming out of the famous Yaogangxian Mine in China. These crystals were some of the largest, sharpest and most lustrous Ferberites out there. This piece is a wonderful example of this now classic material as it features a group of sharp, lustrous, striated, jet-black, thick bladed crystals associated with Quartz and minor Arsenopyrite plus Chalcopyrite on the reverse side. The piece is doubly-terminated, and I honestly can't find any real point of attachment, since the back is re-crystallized where it detached from the back of the pocket, so I'm calling this a complete "floater". If you've always wanted a good piece of this seldom seen material, do not pass up the chance to pick up this attractive and good quality specimen from this famous mine. PLEASE NOTE: This specimen is repaired, as there is one spot on the edge that is glued back together. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #7618CL. 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.