Ruby (rare locality specimen) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

A rarely seen matrix Ruby specimen from the Yuanjiang Ruby Mine in China. The piece came originally from the Rocksmiths, and was purchased by Chet in 2003. A handful of lustrous, sharp, well-formed, rich reddish-pink colored crystals of Ruby measuring up to 1.0 cm across are associated with minor golden Phlogopite and a bit of dark bronze colored Pyrite in grey-white marble matrix. Upon close inspection, you can see the Ruby crystals have beautiful crystal faces, with some attractive striations on the surface. Fine quality matrix Rubies are not easy to find around the world, and if you collect gem minerals, do not pass up the chance to get your hands on this attractive small cabinet from this lesser known mine from nearly 20 years ago. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #20848CL. 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.