Fluorite (multi-colored ''phantom'' crystals)

Item Description

A gorgeous specimen of the famed Yaogangxian Mine Fluorites, dating back over 20 years (it was purchased by Chet in January of 2001 in Tucson) featuring a pair of notably sharp, well-formed, lustrous, very gemmy cubic crystals measuring up to 2.6 cm, free of matrix. The crystals show beautiful "phantom" zoning with glowing blue-green hue on the exterior edges, and an inky purple tone closer to the center, with an almost colorless quality in the very middle. There are a few rough spots on the front/display side, but the color is captivating, and a great representation of the beautiful Fluorites that were coming out of this mine nearly 25 years ago!
From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #16633CL. The piece was originally from the collection of Dan Serebrakian. 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.