Fluorite (multicolor crystals) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

For a brief time in the 1980s, there were beautiful minerals specimens that came out of the Kara-Oba Mine, but they are nearly impossible to find on the market these days. This attractive small cabinet specimen features eye-catching Fluorite cubes measuring up to 1.2 cm on edge with beautiful multi-color zoning with green exteriors and purple / pink interior hues. Small Quartz crystals - some of which are doubly-terminated - can be seen sprinkled about. Fine quality, little damage and very showy. Valued at $600-$700. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #0639CL. Chet's catalogue mentions that this piece was "A former Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, specimen (no label) sold at the Munich show by the Curator." 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.