Vesuvianite (old classic locality) (ex Chet Lemanski Collection)

Item Description

A very hard to find old time Vesuvianite from the locality at Hamrefjell, near Lake Eikeren in Norway. This locality is mentioned as far back as 1890 in an analysis specifically of the Vesuvianite crystals from the Uppsala Chemical Laboratory. This piece hosts several dark brownish-green colored striated prismatic crystals measuring up to 7 mm sitting on a bit of off-white colored Calcite on matrix. Some of the crystals are in good condition, but there are some rough spots as well. These specimens are seldom seen on the market in this quality and this is a highly representative example the species and locality. I have to believe this piece was collected in the late 1960s based upon everything else I've seen for comparison. For reference, collecting is strictly forbidden in this area, and it is now protected as a nature preserve. From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #2321CL. 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.