Villiaumite (''fishbone'' impression = Elatolite) on Feldspar

Item Description

A really cool specimen of Villiaumite from Palitra pegmatite in Russia featuring blocky, deep carmine red colored crystals measuring up to about 5 mm sitting on greyish colored Feldspar matrix. If you flip the piece over, you'll see there is a beautiful "fishbone"-esque impression on the back which actually was thought to be a different species called Elatolite (see https://www.mindat.org/min-43837.html). With that said, these impressions are essentially the result of a previous species that was dissolved away being filled in by the Villiaumite, creating a beautiful effect. As far as I know, this is the only place on earth where these pieces have been found. If you collect mineral oddities, this is something special and unique that you're not likely to find anywhere else on the market, so don't miss out.
From the collection of Chester ("Chet") S. Lemanski Jr. of Browns Mills, New Jersey (https://www.mindat.org/user-461.html). Collection #21505CL. 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.