Joaquinite-(Ce) (very rare) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

The famous A great specimen featuring a few sharp, lustrous, well-formed, orange-brown colored Joaquinite-(Ce) crystals associated with several prismatic crystals of dark reddish-black Neptunite measuring up to 2.6 cm sitting on minor white Natrolite and grey-blue Crossite matrix. The largest Joaquinite-(Ce) crystal is about 1 mm, but under magnification, they are clearly crystallized, and very attractive up close. A fantastic near large cabinet sized specimen featuring crystals of a species that is only found from a few places in the world. The Gem Mine is the type locality for Joaquinite-(Ce), but is obviously best known for its amazing Benitoite and Neptunite specimens. Valued at $1,250. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #11715CL. 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. Lemanski's collection catalogue states that this a former Joe Cilen collection specimen (no labels)(#2,542).