Gadolinite-(Y) (RARE locality specimen) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

Here we have a rarely seen example of the uncommon yttrium iron beryllium silicate, Gadolinite-(Y) from the Baringer Hill Mine, near Bluffton, Texas. This pegmatite locality dates back to 1887, and virtually specimens were mined over 100 years ago. The locality is now completely defunct, as it sits below 100 feet of water under Lake Buchanan. Minerals of Texas are uncommon on the market, and species like Gadolinite are virtually unheard of from the Lone Star state. This piece is a sold chunk (uncrystallized) of black Gadolinite-(Y) with no matrix. An interesting side note: Yttrium is a significant component of this mineral, and the mineral was named after J. Gadolin, who actually discovered yttrium. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #2167CL. 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.