Titanite (twin) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

A classic example of the famous Titanite (Sphene) crystals from the Capelinha municipality of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This piece is a distinct, well-formed twin with sharp lustrous faces and that classic rich green hue. When backlit, you can see a bit of golden-brown coloring to create a nice contrast, and the crystal is rather gemmy in areas. The piece is not without damage, so it's not a 100% pristine, but still a nice overall representation of what are certainly some of the finest Titanite twins in the world. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #16736CL. A former Donald Ferguson collection specimen also. 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.