GOLD

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

A very rich small cabinet specimen of bright metallic yellow crystallized 'leaf' Native Gold forming arborescent areas to 3 cm by 2 cm on characteristic drusy Quartz with an undefined black sulphide. Under magnification, triangular growth patterns can be seen on the Native Gold. From the classic Eastern European location at Rosia Montana, Romania. Gold was first mined in the area in the Late Stone Age but expanded rapidly during Roman occupation. Indeed, Rosia Montana has one of the largest networks of Roman gold mining tunnels. This area produced the first significant gold specimens to enter mineral collections and many of these great specimens have passed down through famous historic collections from at least the 18th century onwards. Interestingly, specimens in older collections are labelled as from 'Hungary' showing how the borders of European empires have changed across the centuries. Gold specimens from Rosia Montana are very distinctive and instantly recognizable in older European collections. This is a really fine example of a true European classic.