Muscovite (var: Alurgite) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

Mica is typically an accessory mineral, and is not often found in colorful display specimens like this. Brazil is one of the few exceptions when it comes to Mica specimens, as some of the showiest examples have been found around Minas Gerais. The piece is filled with pseudo-metallic, thin bladed crystals of beautiful carmine red colored Muscovite on all sides. The label refers to this as a variety called "Alurgite". There are many colors for Muscovite in the world (tan, green, lavender, etc.), but RED is rare from any locality. A beautiful and hard to find piece, as Mica specimens simply are not this eye-catching or colorful. Priced in the inventory at $500. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #3168CL. 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.