Fluorite (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

The Yaogangxian Mine is one of the premier Chinese localities, and the source of some of the most recognizable mineral specimens from the entire country. It has yielded a plethora of wonderful colorful Fluorite specimens over the years. This specimen is a older piece (collected circa 2001) featuring one prominent, and two accessory, "Mayan temple" structured, complex, purple over very pale green Fluorite crystal groups with no matrix. The overall shape of the Fluorite groups is octahedral, but they feature cubic crystal faces. Good luster, sharpness and gemminess on all the Fluorite crystals. No major damage on the top/display side of the piece. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #16632CL. 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.