Fluorite (fine old classic) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

A fantastic cabinet sized display specimen of this old historic material from the Alston Mining Area in Cumbria. The Rotherhope Fell Mine operated in the modern era from 1900 to 1948 and produced tens of thousands of tons of lead ore during that time. Fluorspar mining also took place, and as a result, many fine Fluorite specimens were saved and remain in collections today. This beautiful specimen featuring many sharp, well-formed, purple colored cubic crystals of Fluorite measuring up to 3.3 cm on edge which have a selective coating of drusy grey Quartz in areas along with minor associated grey-black Galena. A pleasing blue fluorescence can be seen under UV light. If you flip the piece over, you will see that the color of the Fluorite is not solid purple, but rather has a layer of rich green Fluorite underneath, which is somewhat visible when the crystals are backlit. Most of the Fluorites are in good condition, though a few minor bruises / cleaves can be seen. For a 70+ year old specimen, it's in great shape, and it's so showy and displayable. I love how the piece sits on its own without the aid of a base or clay. If you collect worldwide Fluorites, historic specimens or specifically English minerals, do not pass up this attractive display specimen. Valued around $2,000-$2,500 retail. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #19464CL. Chet's collection catalogue states that this piece is, "A former Reyner, London, W.I. specimen (label) from the Dr. Eugene E. Sensel collection (#R91) (label) (purchased $3.50 - 1960)". 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.