Stephanite (rare) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

Among the most famous of silver-producing mineral localities in Mexico is the famous Fresnillo area. The various mines in Fresnillo have been the source of some of the most famous and important specimens of various silver sulfides and sulfosalts ever found in Mexico. It's safe to say that some of the finest Stephanite specimens in the world are from this Fresnillo. I would say it's quite difficult to get your hands on good specimens of Stephanite form this area these days. This piece features a fine quality, highly lustrous, rich silvery colored, striated / layered orthorhombic crystal of this rare silvery antimony sulfosalt measuring 1.8 cm sitting in a vug of white Calcite with minor associated Quartz and sulfide / host rock matrix. The surface of the crystal are reflective and metallic. No damage that I can find on the Stephanite crystals with the naked eye. A very attractive specimen of this classic and highly sought after material. Valued at $1,250-$1,500. Stephanite was named after Archduke Stephan Franz Victor von Habsburg-Lothringen, the famous Austrian mining director, engineer and life-long mineral collector. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #20192CL. 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.