Static electricity pulled the rubber mat right off the Turntable!

My discussion was not intended to imply that the aluminum platter was the cause, only as a pointbof reference.  I suspect that the very thin leather mat which can conduct el

Let me try this again, my discussion was not intended to imply that the aluminum platter was the cause, only a point of reference.  I suspect that the very thin leather mat that I am using can more easily conduct the static electricity produced to the platter which via the platter bearing is electrically drained to ground.  When I tried a thicker leather mat which had a thicker suede nap, even with the platter grounded, enough static developed to allow the record to lift the leather mat.

I'm running a VPI HW-19 MK IV.  I too had a static issue.  When humidity was low, upon removing a freshly played record from the platter static would discharge from the record to the cartridge.  My VPI has the Delrin, lead platter which is used with no mat to stick to record.  I grounded the bearing shaft to the lug on my preamp and the static issue disappeared.  I assume this is because static buildup is now draining from the LP to the spindle, to the bearing, to the bearing housing to the preamp.

@viridian  I have a huge Persian rug that everything is sitting on except chairs. It's either the rug or the system. I'm thinking start with smaller rug, then assess.