Fluorite with Anhydrite and Quartz (large impressive specimen) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

This is the largest and most impressive specimen from this lesser known mine in southern Tuscany that we have ever had to offer. The Campiano Mine is actually a fairly modern locality, opening in 1983 and closing in 2003, but specimens were not very common to find on the market. This specimen is a robust and showy three-dimensional large cabinet specimen loaded with dozens of high quality, sharp, lustrous, GEMMY, virtually colorless (very pale green) crystals of Fluorite measuring up to 1.5 cm across associated with little white bladed crystals of Anhydrite along with prismatic white/colorless crystals of Quartz on matrix. The Fluorites show predominantly cubic and dodecahedral faces, and are beautiful to view up close. Honestly, the piece reminds me of similar specimens I've seen from the Naica Mine in Mexico, though I can't say for certain if I've seen Fluorite and Anhydrite together on the same piece from Naica. VERY LITTLE damage to be seen, which is remarkable for a piece of this size. I was stunned to see it, as I never imagined a piece like this existed from this locality. A must have for any fan of Fluorites, large cabinet specimens or minerals of Italy. Very difficult to fairly ascertain value on this one, but I would easily put it in the $2,500-$4,000 range for the size and superior quality. PLEASE NOTE: This specimen is large and a bit heavy, so an additional shipping charge will be required. Please feel free to contact us before bidding if you have any questions or concerns about our shipping policy. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #18416CL. 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.