Titanite (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

This piece is quite reminiscent of the Titanite crystals found in the various localities in Haliburton County and Renfrew County in Ontario, but it's labeled as coming from Calumet Island in Quebec. Now these Canadian Titanites are some of the more unique and interesting examples of the species around. These crystals are often dark and opaque, but they are good sized, with an interesting "wedge"-shaped habit. This piece is a good example of said material featuring smooth, sharp, well-formed faces with a deep chocolate brown hue. The crystal is mostly complete on the front and, but has some interrupted growth with a bit of "chipping" / edgewear. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #2604CL. 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.