large Columbite-(Fe) (RARE South Dakota) Lemanski Coll.

Item Description

VERY RARE, hefty and impressive large subhedral Columbite-(Fe) crystal from the obscure extinct pegmatites of the Beecher Lode of Custer County, that mined Niobium, Tantalum, Beryllium and Mica. The pristine black crystal has one sharp, very lustrous face. The remaining sides are contacted, with no damage. The bands of embedded muscovite add color and contrast. MINDAT lists 29 species for the Lode, with NO photographic examples. Formerly in the Dan Serebrakian Collection. Ex Chet Lemanski Collection and acquired in 2005. We showed this piece to our resident Phd mineralogist, Tom Campbell, a South Dakota specialist and author, who confirmed the locale. RARE, rich Niobium ore from the locale. Hefty mass is 803 grams or 1.8 pounds. A MUST for the species or locality collector.