Tetranatrolite (discredited - now Paranatrolite or Gonnardite) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

This specimen is labeled as Tetranatrolite, which was at one time a valid species and a member of the Zeolite Group (like Natrolite). The type specimen was from the famous Poudrette Quarry at Mount Saint-Hilaire, Canada, but the species was discredited in 1999, and now the material is thought to be either Paranatrolite or Gonnardite which are both valid species, but there hasn't been any definitive work to determine how to label former pieces of Tetranatrolite going forward. For reference, Paranatrolite is a more hydrated analog of Natrolite, but upon dehydration will supposedly alter to Tetranatrolite. With that said this is still rare and unusual material, and this particular specimen features a small patch of tiny spherules of "Tetranatrolite" associated with pleasing soft pink colored Serandite and black, thin prisms of Aegirine on soft grey Feldspar matrix. It's an interesting esoteric piece that would make a cool addition to any rarities collection or a suite of MSH minerals. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #3633CL. 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.