Szenicsite (incredibly rare material) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

Szenicsite is an incredibly rare copper hydroxy molybdate species, named after American mineral dealer and collector Terry Szenics. The species is only found in two places in the world! The best and most celebrated specimens are those from the Jardinière No. 1 Mine (the type locality for Szenicsite). This piece features platy green crystals of this very rare mineral measuring up to 1.3 cm with minor Cuprian Powellite on host rock matrix. This specimen comes directly from Terry Szenics, who collected the piece personally in Chile. If you collect specimens from the type locality, very rare species, or minerals named after people, don't less this one pass you by. One rarely has the opportunity to pick up a piece of this material, especially now since nothing is has come from the locality in years, and no more pieces will likely ever be found. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #4174CL. 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.