GOLD & MINERALS PART II
959. Nevada. Humboldt. Awakening. Sleeper Gold 01-30. Located at the Sleeper Mine, Slumbering Hills. 6.5 grams, 3x2x0.5cm cut slab. A top-quality thumbnail specimen showing multiple, parallel ribbons of free gold passing through the translucent, earth-toned, cherty matrix. A very rare specimen. Est. $100-150
960. Nevada. Humboldt. Awakening. Sleeper Mine Gold in Polished Slab 1/4” x 1-1/4” x 1-1/2” polished slab of gold in a matrix of silicified and opalized breccia Est. $50-100
961. Nevada. Humboldt. Awakening. Sleeper Mine Gold in polished specimen. 3/8” x 1-1/4” x 1-3/4” specimen with one surface polished. Gold in silicified and opalized breccia matrix Est. $50-100
962. Nevada. Humboldt. Blue Mountain. Native Gold, Crystalline. Elongate specimen of crystalline gold. 15mm x 7mm x 5mm, weighs 1.5gm. Slender lath shaped forms with angular edges, one partially formed octahedron 1-2mm across. Est. $350-400
963. Nevada. Humboldt. Eugene Mountains Gold. A superb group of bright, skeletal octahedral gold crystals. The crystal faces exhibit dramatic hopper-shape development. Very fine. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 11.3 grams 14mm x 17mm x 12mm. Est. $600-1,000
964. Nevada. Humboldt. Mount Diablo Gold. Thumbnail specimen of finely crystalline gold with drusy quartz crystals in silicified host rock. 23mm x 18mm x 12mm Est.$60-80
965. Nevada. Humboldt. Mount Diablo Gold. Finely crystalline gold in thin intergrown blades showing herringbone texture, in silicified host rock. 50mm x 42mm x 20mm. Est.$400-500
966. Nevada. Humboldt. Mount Diablo Gold. Finely crystalline gold, abundant small, rounded leaves 0.5 to 1mm affixed to, and covering host rock. Specimen 41mm x 27mm x 14mm. Est.$350-400
967. Nevada. Humboldt. National Gold Mine. Electrum in quartz 40mm x 19mm x 9mm, weighing 17.4gm, indicating high-grade content of electrum. Specimen is from placer, electrum is worn and polished to a rounded form. Rare specimen. The National District, 62 miles north of Winnemucca was noted for its high-grade bonanza ore of which this specimen is an example. The district was discovered in 1907, and by 1909 some of the ore ran up to $30 (1.5 ounces) per ton. The resulting rush of miners grew the camp to 1800 or 2000 shortly thereafter. From 1909 to 1940 the National Gold Mines Company produced 57,120 tons of ore yielding $3,267,426 which calculates to an average of $57 per ton! (nearly 3 ounces gold per ton). Geology of the mines is bonanza quarts ribbon veins in Miocene Rhyolite flows and breccias. The geology and nature of gold mineralization in the National District is similar to that of the Sleeper Mine, Humboldt County, and the Republic Gold Mine, Republic, Washington. [Ref. Paher, 1970, p.149, Couch & Carpenter, 1940, p. 70] Est.$250-300
968. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile Mining District Gold. Nice specimen of leaf gold found near the Winnemucca area. The gold crystallized following natural cleavage planes within an enclosing mineral (most likely calcite). The composition of the gold leaves in this specimen preserves the orientation of the cleavage planes that were present in the host mineral. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 2.4 grams, 27mm x 13mm x 8mm. Est. $120-225
969. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold on Quartz. Quartz with moderate spray of native gold across part of one side of specimen. Top and back of specimen with drusy quartz crystals 27mm x 25mm x 18mm. The Mad Mutha Mine is located in the Ten Mile District, ten miles west of Winnemucca on the Jungo Road. The Ten Mile District began about 1910 with mining in Laurel. The district is credited with production of 3,295 tons of ore yielding $29,375 (est. to be about 1/4 ounce gold per ton) in the period 1939-1940. The Mad Mutha Mine is a different story and although located in the Ten Mile District, is actually a new discovery by Ed Muceus a prospector from Winnemucca. Ed Muceus prospected old mine dumps in the region, as well as placer gold in the dry washes. He followed the placer leads upstream to discover some gold-bearing float, and the new discovery of gold specimens in October 1992. The discovery resulted in 3 veins with specimen gold, cutting quartzite.[Ref. Ed Muceus, personal communication, Paher, 1970, p. 149, Couch & Carpenter, 1940, p.68] Est. $50-120
970. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Sponge-like gold mass with very fine-grained crystalline gold. Bright specimen with moderate sparkle. 30mm x 10mm x 10mm, weighs 5.3gm 25mm. Est. $250-275
971. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Crystalline gold mass, sponge-like with slender, acicular and filiform intergrowths. Bright specimen with sparkle display. Very fragile. 42mm x 22mm x 20mm, weighs 16.8gm. .Est. $600-750
972. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Crystalline gold, in sponge-like intergrowth. 16mm x 12mm x 6mm, weighs 1.3gm with mounting putty, very fragile specimen. Est. $60-80
973. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Specimen consists of numerous 6mm gold blades intergrown, possibly having replaced barite. Several of the blades are terminated by coarse, wire tips. Specimen is 18mm x 15mm x 5mm, visual estimate of weight 1.5 to 2gm. Very fragile, delicate specimen, with flower-like appearance. Est. $200-250
974. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Sponge-like mass of gold with dendritic and recticulated form. Aesthetic form of specimen. 30mm x 15mm x 15mm, weighs 6.3gm. Est. $350-400
975. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Two gold pieces, one is 23mm x 15mm x 4mm, weighs 3.2gm, with dendritic form. The other is 10mm x 4mm x 3mm, weighs 0.1gm..Est. $80-100
976. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Sponge-like mass of gold intergrowths, somewhat sucrose texture, 38mm x 30mm x 12mm, very fragile. 10.4gm Est. $250-325
977. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. Sponge-like gold interstitial to former quartzite. Specimen is 20mm x 12mm x 6mm, weighing 1.5gm.. Est. $30-50
978. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold. 13mm x 11mm x 9mm, Sponge-like gold, weighing 1.7gm Est. $80-110
979. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold on Quartz. Quartz veinlets, vugs, and sugary quartz with sparse to moderate visible gold. Flat surfaces of gold formed along small quartz crystals. 40mm x 30mm x 22mm. Est. $80-120
980. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold on Quartz. Sponge-like gold mass 40mm x 12mm x 19mm set on quartz 30mm x 12mm x 13mm. Est. $425-475
981. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold on Quartz. Sponge-like gold specimen, 11mm x 8mm x 5mm on vein quartz 29mm x 12mm x 11mm of gold on 20mm quartz. $70-100
982. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold on Quartz. Native visible gold disseminated on vein quartz with sucrose texture Specimen 40mm x 35mm x 15mm. Est. $450-500
983. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Native Gold Flake. Thin gold specimen with irregular edges, leaf-like. Probably formed along parting in host rock. Dendritic crystalline gold with herringbone and reticulate pattern. 19mm x 14mm x -0.1mm. Est. $50-75
984. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Native Gold from the Mad Mutha Mine. Gold on small quartz crystals, 23mm x 12mm x 7mm, visual estimate of weight 2gm. Est. $100-120
985. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Native Gold with Amethyst and Quartz. Beautiful purple amethyst and quartz vein material laced with gold. Amethyst association with gold is rare. Vein in silicified volcanic rock or chert. Specimen is 35mm x 33mm x 20mm. Est. $250-350
986. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Ten Mile District, Story Claims Crystalline Gold Specimen. Nice 1” x 1-1/2” specimen of fine crystalline gold on drusy quartz in rhyolite host rock. From the Story Claims in the 10-mile district, Humboldt County, NV. Est. $50-150
987. Nevada. Humboldt. Ten Mile. Mad Mutha Mine Native Gold Crystal. Gold mass, 55mm x 40mm x 8mm estimated to weigh 2-3 ounces of gold on large, 26cm x 13cm x 11 cm crystalline vein quartz Est. $1400-1600
988. Nevada. Lander. Austin. First National Bank Assay Office Assay Receipt, 1867. This is an assay receipt of “mill pulp” deposited by the Manhattan Silver Mining Co. Nine samples were deposited with an average of $206 per ton of silver. No gold was noted to occur in these samples, but the silver content was impressive. J. R. Murphy, Assayer is printed at the top of the receipt. At left is a vignette of Miss Liberty. Printed by J. D. Fairchild & Co, Daily Reveille Office, which was located in Austin. One half inch tear at top edge barely breaks the border. 6 x 11. Small tear hole to right of vignette. Wrinkled, stained. Very fine. Est. $50-100
Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain.
Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. The following crystalline gold samples were mined from the Round Mountain gold mine, Nye County, Nevada over the period 1986 to 1999. These samples were not professionally cleaned. High grade specimens were sold to employees, probably totaling only a few hundred ounces of gold, but no public sales were held. Essentially all of the high-grade gold mined was produced as bullion. Round Mountain was discovered by Louis Gordon in 1906, and was named for the low, round top mountain of porphyry and rhyolite. Gordon was joined by James R. Davis, “Diamondfield Jack” Davis to form the Round Mountain Mining Company incorporated in Nevada in 1906. The Round Mountain Co. went on to produce 5.2 million ounces of gold and still today operates as a world-class gold mine. Gold mineralization occurs as stockworks, breccias, and mineralized structures in the Round Mountain Tuff, composed of rhyolite. Gold occurs mostly as disseminated electrum associated with silica, and rarely, local high-grade native gold pockets. The ore deposit formed between 26.5 and 26 million years before present during the Tertiary Period. [Ref: Tingley, Zanjani, Hall, Nevada Place Names].
989. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline gold mass 28 mm x 24 mm x 4 mm, weighs 0.41 troy oz. Gold crystals to 0.5 and 1 mm, octahedral. One or more small dodecahedrons with sharp faces. Also crystalline leaf. Moderately bright luster. Est. $250-500
990. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline mass of gold 29 mm x 15 mm x 10 mm, weighs 0.43 troy oz. Gold crystals form 1 cm long, slender dendritic shapes with cockscomb and sawtooth texture. Most of specimen is crystals. Bright specimen. Est. $250-500
991. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline mass of gold 19 mm x 13 mm x 6 mm, weighs 0.13 troy oz. Crystalline and native gold with 20% matrix of hematite-stained quartz. Est.$ 100-200
992. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline mass of gold 21 mm x 15 mm x 6 mm, weighs 0.19 troy oz. Abundant gold crystals, to approximately 1mm, octahedral with flattened edges. Est. $120-150
993. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Leaf and compact dendritic gold 18 mm x 12 mm x 6mm, weighs 0.17 troy oz. Flattened compact leaf, with rounded edges. Dull luster. Est. $100-150
994. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Leaf gold 31 mm x 16 mm x 4mm, weighs 0.13 troy oz. Flattened leaf, with rounded edges. Dull luster with sparse limonite stain. Est. $120-250
995. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Leaf gold with fine quartz and clay matrix. 24 mm x 22 mm x 9 mm, weighs 0.28 troy oz. Some crystalline gold, and triangular crystal pattern on leaves. Est. $300-600
996. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline dendritic gold 22 mm x 18 mm x 13 mm, weighs 0.42 troy oz. Gold crystals, to approximately 1mm, octahedral, and elongate forming dendritic shapes. Est. $250-350
997. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline mass of gold 41 mm x 37 mm x 14 mm, weighs 1.38 troy oz. Abundant gold crystals, to approximately 1mm, octahedral, with flattened and rounded edges, also gold crystals forming dendritic shapes. Several examples of leaf gold to 2.0 to 0.5 cm. However, most of specimen is gold crystals. Moderately bright specimen. Est. $800-1,500
998. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline mass of gold 45 mm x 24 mm x 20 mm, weighs 1.63 troy oz. Compact mass of gold crystals, to approximately 1mm, octahedral, some flattening of crystals, and rounded edges. Moderately bright to dull luster. Est. $700-1,000
999. Nevada. Nye. Round Mountain. Gold Specimen. Crystalline mass of gold 50 mm x 31 mm x 16 mm, weighs 2.20 troy oz. Abundant gold crystals, to approximately 1mm, octahedral, some elongated with perfect crystal faces, others octahedral with flattened edges, also gold crystals forming dendritic shapes. Several examples of leaf gold 0.5 cm, however most of specimen is crystals. Bright specimen. Est. $1,000-$1,500
1000. Nevada. Nye. Tonopah. Native gold specimens. Total weight 4.22 gm. Collected by Al Bradshaw, Tonopah miner, acquired by current owner about 1979. Three small specimens 12mm long weighing 1.8gm, 9mm long and weighs 1.67 gm, and 7mm weighing .75gm. Largest is extremely bright gold, with roughly crystalline form, rounded. Middle-sized specimen also extremely bright gold with smooth, striated face 10mm x 7mm, probably formed at quartz crystal face. Third is nugget shaped gold with white quartz. Est. $50-150
1001. Nevada. Pershing. Majuba Hill. Majuba Placer Gold. 11mm x 6mm x 5mm, weighs 1.2 gm. Angular edges, probably as pseudomorph of previous host rock mineral. Edges folded slightly over. Very fresh for placer gold, probably deposited close to lode source. Est. $75-120
1002. Nevada. Pershing. Majuba Hill. Majuba Placer Gold Nugget. 9mm x 6mm x 6mm, weighs 1.6gm. Slightly angular edges, probably as pseudomorph of previous host rock mineral. Edges folded over in interesting patterns. Very fresh for placer gold, probably deposited close to lode source. Est. $75-120
1003. Nevada. Pershing. Majuba Hill. Majuba Placer Gold Nugget. 11mm x 7mm x 5mm, weighs 1.7gm. Slightly angular edges, probably as pseudomorph of previous host rock mineral. Nugget forms as elongate pointed form. Very fresh for placer gold, probably deposited close to lode source. Est. $75-120
1004. Nevada. Pershing. Majuba Hill. Majuba Placer Gold Nugget. 9mm x 10mm x 6mm, weighs 1.9gm. Slightly crystalline, with angular edges folded into interesting patterns. Very fresh for placer gold, probably deposited close to lode source. Est. $150-170
1005. Nevada. Pershing. Majuba Hill. Majuba Placer Gold Nugget. 23mm x 24mm x8mm, weighs 13.8gm. Large piece, remnant crystalline and dendritic forms evident, with very interesting folded patterns. Very fresh for placer gold, probably deposited close to lode source. Est. $1000-1250
1006. Nevada. Storey. Virginia City. Six-Mile Canyon Gold Nuggets & Grains. These are true placer gold for Six Mile Canyon. Total weight 25.5 grams. Nuggets mostly 1-4mm, rounded and flattened. Largest gold-quartz nugget is 15mm long and weighs 4.6 gm. Rare. Est. $400-600
1007. No Lot.
Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse.
Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. The Olinghouse gold mine is in the Pah Rah Mountains about 35 miles east of Reno, Nevada. Prospecting began in 1860. The district produced 10,266 tons of gold and silver ore worth $520,040 from 1898 through 1940 [Ref. Couch & Carpenter, 1943]. Modern exploration began in the 1980’s, with placer mining by Alhambra Mines, with recovered values much less than drilled resources. In 1994, Alta Gold purchased the property in 1994 and later reported an open-pit resource of 500,000 ounces gold in rock averaging 0.042 ounce gold per ton with a strip ratio of 4.5:1, waste to ore. The mine began production in September, 1998 with 2,912 ounces gold, and in 1999 produced 28,655 ounces gold. [Ref. Nv Bur Mines, 2000 Min Ind of Nevada]. The gold mineralization occurs as small wires and free grains in veins, along fractures, and disseminated in Miocene andesite. The gold mineralization occurs with quartz, calcite, epidote, stilbite, potassic feldspar, and sparse adularia. [Ref. Jones, GSN, Oct. 16, 1998 meeting]. The Olinghouse closed due to lowered gold prices, and erratic distribution of the high grade.
1008. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Crystalline gold specimen Nice 1-1/4” x 1-1/2” specimen of fine crystalline gold with calcite and hematite pseudomorphs of pyrite on andesite host rock. Mounted on 2” x 2” lucite base. Est. $150-300
1009. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Crystalline gold specimen. Nice 1/2” x 1” specimen of fine crystalline gold with calcite on andesite host rock. Mounted on 1-1/4” x 1-1/4” lucite base. Est. $50-100
1010. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Crystalline gold specimen. Nice 3/4” x 1-1/2” specimen of fine crystalline gold with calcite in fractures in andesite host rock. Mounted on 1” x 1” lucite base. Est. $50-150
1011. No Lot.
Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. The following Olinghouse specimens show a multitude of tiny gold wires and crystals, delicately formed in a vein.
1012. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Wire Gold Specimen OH-140. Underground location at the 6030’ Level, 813 Pit, Olinghouse (Collected in 2000). Brecciated green, altered andesite matrix with pockets of fine wire gold, associated with quartz crystals, calcite and laumontite zeolite. This specimen is from the classic find at the Olinghouse district, which ceased operations back in April of 2000. These specimens are in limited supply and are in high demand by collectors. 4.8x3x3cm. Est. $120-250
1013. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Wire Gold Specimen OH-163. Underground location at the 6030’ Level, 813 Pit, Olinghouse (Collected in 2000). Choice 4x3.5x3.5cm matrix miniature of wire gold from the Olinghouse mine displaying a rich surface of wires in association with a crystalline, white patch of laumontite zeolite; a very aesthetic specimen. Est. $200-300
1014. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Wire Gold Specimen OH-196. Underground location at the 6030’ Level, 813 Pit, Olinghouse (Collected in 2000). 3.75x3x2.5cm miniature specimen of darker, contrasting matrix with a 3cm tall nest of rich, aesthetic wire gold growing on a thin layer of drusy quartz crystals. Est. $150-250
1015. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Wire Gold Specimen OH-346A. Underground location at the 6030’ Level, 813 Pit, Olinghouse (Collected in 2000). 3.5x2.5x2cm select thumbnail specimen displaying a 2x1cm nest of brilliant leaves and wires of gold. Only rarely do defined leaves occur at Olinghouse. Est. $150-250
1016. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Gold Crystals on Andesite. Beautiful felted mass of crystalline gold on andesite fracture surface. Gold exhibits delicate acicular intergrowths. Gold mass extends 75mm x 40mm x 2-10mm thick. Andesite host rock 11cm x 6.5cm x 6cm thick. Very rare. Est.$1100-1250
1017. Nevada. Washoe. Olinghouse. Gold Crystals on Andesite. Beautiful, thick felted mass of crystalline gold on andesite fracture surface. Gold exhibits delicate acicular intergrowths. Gold matt covers almost entire surface extent of specimen. Gold mass extends 150mm x 90mm x 5-11mm thick. Andesite host rock 17cm x 10cm x 8cm thick, mounted on 15cm x 9cm clear lucite base . Very rare. Est.$4500-5500
1018. Nevada: Humboldt. Humboldt County Gold Quartz. Gold mining is big business in Nevada today. In 1999, Nevada produced 3/4 of all the gold produced in the United States. Numerous, large open pit gold mines are operating in north-central Nevada. These mines are exploiting several large Carlin-type deposits on the Getchell Trend, Humboldt-Austin Trend, Carlin Trend, Valmy Trend, Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend, and others. Newmont Mining Corporation’s Twin Creeks Mine, for example, is currently the third largest gold producing mine in North America, has an annual gold production of nearly 1 million ounces. Unfortunately for the collector of fine gold specimens, gold occurs in these Carlin-type deposits primarily as finely disseminated, microscopic gold intermixed with a variety of sulfide and oxide minerals, typically, very unattractive rocks. Several localities in Nevada are, however, currently yielding beautiful crystallized, native gold specimens. This piece consists of a cluster of fine dendritic gold crystals which have been acid-etched from the enclosing quartz. A thin layer of quartz matrix provides a base for the specimen. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 44.5 grams, 40mm x 30mm x 13mm. Est. $850-1,500
See pp127-129 for more Humboldt specimnes.
1019. New Mexico. Santa Fe. New Placers. San Pedro Mine Gold Calcite. Mining has been conducted off and on since the 16th century at the San Pedro mine in north-central New Mexico. The Spanish were the first to mine gold at the locality, followed by a period of gold exploration by Mexicans. During the American period both copper and gold mining have been undertaken. In addition to gold, other minerals occurring at the mine include: chalcopyrite, malachite and other copper-bearing minerals, hematite, laumontite, quartz, and calcite. Native gold occurs as wires, ribbons, and crystals that are enclosed within a white-colored calcite. (Ref: Mineralogical Record; Volume 20, Number 1, Page 63). This is a very attractive specimen featuring bright, wire gold and gold crystals with associated calcite. The calcite was acid-etched to expose the gold wires/crystals which the calcite had enveloped. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 1.5 grams, 16mm x 12mm x 7mm. Est. $325-600
1020. New Mexico. Santa Fe. New Placers. San Pedro Mine Gold Calcite. Superb specimen exhibiting very sharp, lusterous, gold crystals and wires on calcite. The enclosing calcite was partially removed by acid-etching to expose the crystallized gold. Stunning under magnification. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 12.0 grams, 32mm x 22mm x 12mm. Est. $475-900
1021. Papua New Guinea. Enga Province. Mt. Kare. Mt. Kare Gold. The Mt. Kare epithermal gold-silver deposit, located in the Central Highlands near Porgera, is one of several large, currently active gold mines in Papua New Guinea. To date, exploratory drilling has outlined an initial resource exceeding three million ounces of gold equivalent at Mt. Kare. Two distinctive styles of mineralization occur at Mt. Kare. Carbonate-based metal-gold mineralization with moderate gold grades and a high-grade zone containing quartz, roscoelite, and gold. This excellent specimen features flattened, skeletal octahedral gold crystals which are bright and sharp. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 4.4 grams, 32mm x 9mm x 2.5mm. Est. $600-1200
1022. Peru. Lima Dept. Uchucchacua Silver. Spectacular specimen of coarse wire silver grown upwards from matrix. Silver wires total 4 to 5, are 1-2mm in diameter and reach a length of about 30mm. Very beautiful, aesthetic sample, mounted on 25mm Lucite base. Est$500-750
1023. Romania. Western Transylvania Gold District. Rosia Montana. Rosia Montana Gold. A spectacular cluster of sharp, bright, elongated, skeletal gold crystals. Very aesthetic piece. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 9.7 grams, 30mm x 15mm x 10mm. Est. $2000-3600
1024. Romania. Western Transylvania Gold District. Rosia Montana. Rosia Montana Gold. A very fine single crystallized gold leaf. Under magnification, the surface of the leaf is completely covered by small gold crystals in parallel growth. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 0.8 grams, 24mm x 7mm x 1mm. Est. $120-250
1025. Romania. Western Transylvania Gold District. Rosia Montana Gold Quartz Specimen. Exhibits several lusterous gold leaves, to 1 cm across, occurring on a bed of quartz crystals which partially cover a matrix rock. Under magnification, interesting triangular shaped growth features occur on the surfaces of the leaf gold. Specimen comes with a label from Lazard Cahn. Cahn, who passed away in 1940, was mineralogist, crystallographer, rmineral dealer from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. Many of the finest specimens of gold ever found in Europe have come from the western Transylvania gold mining district in Romania. This mining district covers an area 30 km by 50 km, lying between the Aries River on the north and the Mures River to the south. The area has numerous dikes and dike systems occurring near volcanic pipes and has epithermal mineralization of the Comstock Lode type. Gold from this mining district was first written about by the Greek historian Herodotus (484-425? B.C.) who mentioned gold jewelry worn by inhabitants along the Mures River. Rosia Montana (formerly named: Verespatak) in the northern part of the western Transylvania gold mining district is world-famous for wonderfully crystallized gold specimens. (Ref: Mineralogical Record, Volume 13, Number 6, Pages 359-374) 67.1 grams, 65mm x 30mm x 30mm. Est. $300-600
1026. Russia. Gems. Rubies from Russia. Twelve unworked ruby specimens, total weight 27.440 gms. Diameter ranges from 7 – 15mm, hexagonal crystal segments. Length 5 – 15mm. Color reddish, with inclusions. Est. $50-100
1027. Russia. Siberia. Altay Mountains. Atlay Region Gold. Mining of the placer deposits in the Altay region began in 1830. The Egor’evsky placer mine was the first mine to begin recovery of gold from the very rich Kundustryul placer located between the Tom’ and Yenisei rivers. Gold nuggets heavier than 2 kilograms were found at the Egorevsky placer mine. More than 450 placers were discovered in the Altay area by 1832! This stream-worn gold nugget exhibits skeletal octahedral gold crystals to 6 mm across. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 9.9 grams, 24mm x 9mm x 10mm. Est. $500-900
1028. Russia. Siberia. Altay Mountains. Szvadonsky Mine Gold Quartz. This specimen comes from a lode deposit in the Altay Mountains. The Altay Mountains occur at the junction of Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. This specimen exhibits crudely formed gold crystals on quartz matrix with associated tennantite. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 17.4 grams, 30mm x 25mm x 23mm. Est. $200-400
1029. Russia. Siberia. Lena River. Lena River Gold. Lena River gold was first discovered in Russia in 1745, when four little flakes of gold were found near Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. A lode gold mine, the Berezovsk mine, was developed near the site of this first discovery. Mining continues to this day at the Berezovsk deposit. The Russian gold industry did not really blossom, however, until large placer gold deposits were discovered during the early to mid-1800’s. Large gold placer discoveries were first made in the Urals and by 1823 approximately 200 placer mines were in operation. A series of gold rushes followed that pushed placer gold mining in Russia further and further to the east. Major placer discoveries were made in the Altai-Mariinsky region (1830), the Transbaikalia area (1832), the Yenisei river basin (1839), the Lena River-Siberia (1843), and the Amur area (1868). Russia lead the world in gold production from the 1820’s until 1850 when the production from the Mother Lode district of California vaulted the United States into the lead. During the 1920’s to the late-1980’s the Soviet Union placed great emphasis on gold exploration and mining. Within every known Russian placer district new lode deposits were discovered and mines were developed. During this period the Soviet Union’s annual gold production was second only to the huge Witwatersrand gold deposit in South Africa. (Ref: Gold:Nuggets of Russia by Lyudmila S. Sher, Ocean Pictures Ltd., Moscow, 1999). For the gold specimen collector, the superb gold nuggets from Russian placer deposits are much sought after for their aesthetic beauty and for the wide variety of habits and forms available. Crystalline gold in matrix rock from Russia’s lode deposits, while not as spectacular as lode gold specimens from California, are desirable for their scarcity. (Ref: Gold:Nuggets of Russia by Lyudmila S. Sher, Ocean Pictures Ltd., Moscow, 1999). Lena River placer deposits typically came from lodes which contained low-sulfur ores. Quartz making up 90-98% of the ore, sulfide mineralization amounting to 1-5% of the vein mass, and gold contributing the remaining percentage. Pyrite and arsenopyrite being the most common sulfide minerals and sulfides of copper, zinc, and lead being minor constituents. These quartz- rich veins often had openings (pockets, vugs, seams) of sufficient size to enable the growth of large gold crystals. Despite being stream-worn, many nuggets from the Lena River placer deposits exhibit remarkable crystal form preservation. This attractive stream-worn nugget provides a superb example of the dendritic habit of crystallization, where numerous elongated crystals have grown in parallel from a main stem. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 5.6 grams, 21mm x 13mm x 3mm. Est. $300-600
1030. Russia. Siberia. Siberian Gold Nugget. A stream-rounded cluster of small gold crystals. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 3.8 grams, 15mm x 9mm x 7mm. Est. $75-150
1031. Russia. Siberia. Siberian Gold Nugget. A stream-rounded cluster of small gold crystals. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 2.7 grams, 17mm x 8mm x 4mm. Est. $75-150
1032. Russia. Siberia. Siberian Gold Nugget. A stream-worn nugget, composed of an aggregation of small gold crystals. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 4.9 grams, 20mm x 12mm x 5mm. Est. $175-300
1033. Russia. Siberia. Siberian Gold Nugget. A very sculptural, streamworn gold nugget. Several small, stream-rounded quartz pebbles are encased by the native gold. Pretty. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 22.3 grams, 24mm x 22mm x 10mm. Est. $425-750
1034. Russia. Ural Mountains. Ural Mountains Gold. A stream-worn, bright, elongated skeletal gold crystal. Very Nice. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 3.6 grams, 20mm x 5mm x 5mm. Est. $275-550
1035. Russia. Western Siberia. West Siberian Gold. A slightly stream-worn cluster of skeletal gold crystals. Individual gold crystals exceeding 1 cm in length. Very nice condition. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 15.8 grams, 26mm x 20mm x 12mm. Est. $450-900
1036. Russia. Yekaterinburg Oblast (Central Ural Mountains). Berezovsk. Berezovsk Mine Gold Quartz. The Berezovsk deposit has medium-sulfur ores which formed at moderate depths. In deposits having medium-sulfur ores, the sulfide content can reach 40%, with associates including: pyrite, arsenopyrite, sulfides of copper, zinc, lead, and minerals containing silver, antimony, bismuth and tellurium. Gold associates with practically all of the ore and gangue minerals present in the system; forming impregnations, intergrowths, veinlets, and segregation along mineral grain contacts. Gold generally forms in the last stage of ore deposition. (Ref: Gold:Nuggets of Russia by Lyudmila S. Sher, Ocean Pictures Ltd., Moscow, 1999) This specimen exhibits bright gold veinlets in quartz matrix. Nice. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 14.2 grams, 25mm x 12mm x 25mm. Est. $75-150
1037. Russia. Yekaterinburg Oblast (Central Ural Mountains). Yekaterinburg. Yekaterinburg Gold Quartz. A superb lode gold specimen, featuring several clusters of sketetal gold crystals on quartzite matrix. Base of specimen is sawed. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 170.5 grams, 73mm x 60mm x 25mm. Est. $700-1400
1038. Tennessee. Smith. Elmwood Mine. Gem Calcite on Matrix. Underground location in 20-78 Heading. Large cabinet specimen displaying a superb, 6x3x3cm diamond-like, cognac-colored, second-generation calcite crystal well presented on a pedistal of gray dolostone matrix. A smaller, rare, marcasite-included, first-generation calcite crystal resides on the far left of the specimen, illustrating the deposits multiple calcite-stage paragenesis. This piece is from the “Road Train Pocket”, found in the early 1990’s and was originally acquired from Walt Gaylord, a once famous and prominent collector of top-quality Elmwood specimens. The Elmwood mine has produced some world class calcite specimens. 23x14x13cm. Est. $500-900
1039. Venezuela. La Gran Sabana. La Gran Sabana Gold. A beautiful, single untwinned tetrahexhedral gold crystal which is approximately 40% complete, exhibiting hopper development at several positions of modifying octahedral faces. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. Photographs of this specimen have appeared in the Mineralogical Record, Volume 18, Number 1, 1987, P90 and in the book on the F. John Barlow Mineral Collection, Chapter 7, Page 202. 3.2 grams, 9mm x 6mm x 5mm. Est. $500-800
1040. Venezuela. La Gran Sabana. La Gran Sabana Gold. A large, moderately rounded, stream-worn gold crystal. The crystal exhibits skeletal development, with crystal faces exhibiting hopper growth. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 33.8 grams, 25mm x 22mm x 10mm. Est. $750-1,500
1041. Venezuela. La Gran Sabana. La Gran Sabana Gold. A super gold crystal group featuring slightly water-worn twinned tetrahexahedral crystals. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. Photographs of this specimen have appeared in the Mineralogical Record, Volume 18, Number 1, 1987, Page 90 and in the book on the F. John Barlow Mineral Collection, Chapter 7, Page 202. 3.5 grams, 12mm x 11mm x 6mm. Est. $1,000-2,000
1042. Venezuela. La Gran Sabana. La Gran Sabana Gold. An aesthetic, moderately rounded, stream-worn gold crystal. The crystal exhibits skeletal development, having hopper-shaped crystal faces. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 8.3 grams. 21mm x 10mm x 6mm. Est. $300-600
1043. Venezuela. La Gran Sabana. La Gran Sabana Gold. The Venezuelan gold specimens were recovered from a placer deposit 40 km West of the Santa Elena gold field, located on the southwestern fringe of the Guyana Highlands. The Guyana Highlands gold field is the most significant gold mining province in Venezuela. Gold production estimates from Venezuela’s portion of this gold field, during the period from 1493 to 1934, are placed at 3.7 million ounces. This sharp, octahedral gold crystal is approximately 40% complete. The crystal has hopper-shaped octahedral faces, exhibiting numerous ribs. Color and luster are excellent. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. Photographs of this specimen have appeared in the Mineralogical Record, Volume 18, Number 1, 1987, Page 90 and in the book on the F. John Barlow Mineral Collection, Chapter 7, Page 202? 12mm x 12mm x 12mm. Est. $2,500-5,000
1044. Zimbabwe. Mashonaland. Mashonaland Gold Quartz. Zimbabwe has a long mining history, especially mining for gold. In the 1,200 years preceding European colonization, an estimated 4,000 mines produced between 19 and 26 million ounces of gold. Since 1900 more than 55 million ounces of gold have been produced. This specimen features bright leaf gold in quartz. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 3.3 grams, 10mm x 17mm x 12mm. Est. $125-250
1045. Australia. New South Wales. Cobar. Alura Mine. Australian Silver Crystal. Very long, spinel-law native, having small cubic, flattened octahedral, and dendritic silver crystals growing along the length of the long crystal. Very nice. 1.6 grams, 90mm x 2mm x 3mm. Est. $100-$200
1046. Kazakhstan. Dzhezkazgan Oblast. Dzhezkazgan. Kazakhstan Silver, Calcite. The Dzhezkazgan deposit, having both underground and open pit workings, is primarily known for its copper production. It was written, in the early 1990’s, that Dzhezkazgan had twenty years of proven copper reserves and an annual production of 20 million tonnes of copper ore. This specimen is a very aesthetic grouping of native silver wires on calcite matrix. The wire silver is 1.0 to 1.5 mm in thickness. Very Nice. Total Weight equals 10.5 grams. 38mm x 23mm x 13mm. Est. $600-$950
1047. Kazakhstan. Kustanay Oblast. Rudnyy. Silver, Sandstone Matrix from the Sokolovskoe Mine. Numerous bright, native silver wires that have grown on a greenish-gray sandstone matrix. The thickness of the silver wires reaches 1.5 millimeters, and 21.2 grams. 50mm x 30mm x 20mm. Est. $200-$400
1048. Norway. Kongsberg. Ringnes Mine Silver, Calcite. The Ringnes Mine is located in south-central Norway, approximately 40 kilometers from the world-famous silver mining district of Kongsberg. Silver mining has been important in Norway since the 1600’s. The Kongsberg area yielded, from 1624 to 1957, more than 43 million troy ounces of silver. This specimen is of more contemporary origin, being found during the last decade. It is rich with native silver and features spiky silver crystals (over 1 cm in length), leaf silver, dendritic groups, and euhedral silver crystals. The silver has been exposed from encasing calcite by acid-etching. 974.3 grams, 17cm x 9.5cm x 4cm. Est. $1,750-$3,000 S-2
1049. Colorado. Mineral. Bulldog Mountain/Creede. Homestake Mine Silver, Matrix Rock. Silver was discovered in the Creede district in the 1870’s. Around 1890, when the railroad line arrived at Creede, it became one of the last mining boom towns of the American west. The Commodore, Bulldog, Bachelor, Last Chance, and Amethyst are the most well-known of the mines in the Creede area. In 1964, a shaft was sunk into Bulldog Mountain at an elevation of 10,000’ and the last great American locality for native silver specimens was discovered. Wire silver and dendritic masses are the predominant habits seen from Bulldog Mountain. (Ref: The F. John Barlow Mineral Collection, SANCO Publishing, 1996; Various Authors, Chapter 9, Page 230) The specimen is loaded with delicate, hair-like native silver wires to 1 cm in length. Some of the silver wires are curled and matted against the matrix rock, while others are more separated and rise above the matrix. 6.5 grams, with a total weight of 24mm x 16mm x 11mm. Est. $75-$150
1050. Colorado. Pitkin. Aspen. Smuggler Mine Silver. The Aspen mining district, is famous for its silver production. The area produced nice specimens of silver-bearing minerals and good native silver specimens featuring wires, leaves, and masses. This rich specimen is a bright, compact mass of native silver wires. 15.9 grams, 27mm x 20mm x 15mm. Est. $100-$200
1051. Michigan. Keweenaw. Silver, Prehnite from near Copper Falls Mine. While primarily thought of as a copper mining district, the mines of the Keweenaw Peninsula have produced a prodigious volume of silver, with a recorded production of over 16.4 million troy ounces. The underground mines of this area, the vast majority of which are now closed, yielded superb native silver specimens exhibiting a variety of crystal forms. This specimen was NOT collected underground. A small surface exposure of native silver was discovered in the summer of 1980 by a local collector using a metal detector near the Copper Falls Mine. The discovery yielded a number of silver specimens, from thumbnail to cabinet size. This specimen features a cluster of very sharp, skeletal cubic silver crystals on a light green prehnite matrix. The dimension of the cluster of silver crystals is 21mm x 10mm, with largest individual crystal being 4mm across. Ex-F.J. Barlow Collection. 17.9 grams, total weight, and 27mm x 34mm x 17mm. Est. $250-$500
