HISTORIC RARE Native Gold & Roscoelite COLOMA, CALIFORNIA - Ex. AMNH, Elling

Description

MineralMan999
Native Gold with Roscoelite
Coloma (Pilot Hill Mining District), Coloma Mining District, West Belt, El Dorado Co., California, USA
3.5cm x 2.2cm x 2.1cm
Ex. Columbia University (1/11/56)
Ex. American Museum of Natural History #C84467
Ex. Eugene Carmichael Collection #EWC3575
Ex. George Elling Collection
Description/Interesting Notes:
A very rare and significant example of native gold and roscoelite from this historic California locale (near the famed Sutter's Mill site that sparked the great California Gold Rush!)!!!  Roscoelite is a very rare vanadium analogue of muscovite and Coloma  is the type locale for the species!!!  This unusual, and very characteristic association is known only from this area and likely dates back to 19th century workings!!!   This specimen hosts a very rich showing of native gold, intimately intergrown with well crystallized roscoelite and a small portion of  what appears to be another unidentified darkly colored species!!!  Upon close inspection with a loupe or scope one can see some tiny but very  well formed native gold crystals scattered about as well - in addition to sheets, wires, and masses of brilliant, buttery yellow native gold!!!  In person the  contrast between the darkly colored roscoelite and brilliant native gold is quite striking!!!  This is VERY rich material and the specimen has significant heft for its size and shows native gold  protruding from every side!!!  This material is well documented from two places in Caloma,  the Stuckslager Mine (the type locale) and the Big Red Ravine (Hanks, Henry Garber (1881), Notes on roscoelite: Mining and Scientific Press: 42: 428;), where  "several hundred pounds of roscoelite were found in Big Red Ravine, near the old Sutter Mill, (sec. 31, T.  11 N., R. 10 E., M. D.), but were destroyed to obtain the interlaminated  gold. Hanks (4) p. 428, (7) p. 263. 3, " it was also noted elsewhere that "Roscoelite occurs laminated with gold between the mica flakes. Un-  fortunately, few specimens have been preserved from the original find  because the gold content was so high that the specimen material became  ore"!!! This specimen was recently acquired from the collection of George Elling and had previously been in the noted  collection of Eugene Carmichael, the American Museum of Natural History, and Columbia University!!!  The specimen  retains an old (dated 1/11/56) Columbia University Department of Geology X-Ray Record label that notes the material  as roscoelite and gives the locality as "Pilot Hill" (the Pilot Hill Mining District encompasses Coloma, however this  material is SO distinctive that it unquestionably is from Coloma)!!!  Columbia University  sold off a large portion of its systematic collection to the AMNH in 1980 - a significant collection  of great academic importance!!!  Eugene Carmichael did extensive  trading with the AMNH and the specimen retains his notecard with some  detailed info including the AMNH #C84467 (notes also mention that "BJS Card Read: 'Extremely rare - one of  the finest examples extant'" and "'Gift' J.P. 7/11/89" presumably 1889)!!!  This is  truly a significant and important historic California gold specimen!!!  Don't miss out - I sincerely doubt we'll ever see another one!!!   The pics hardly do it justice!!!  Must be seen in person to be fully appreciated!!! Good luck and be sure to check out my other exciting mineral auctions on ebay!!!
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We are excited to announce our largest collection acquisition to date - the incredible 28,000 specimen collection of noted Eastcoast collector Chet  Lemanski!  We are so very proud and honored to be handling this important collection, jointly purchased with Rob Lavinsky of the Arkenstone!   Chet has been a lifelong collector of mineral specimens and has contributed greatly to the hobby of mineral collecting and mineralogy.  Chet is  an administrator for www.mindat.org and the namesake of the mineral Lemanskiite. Chet began building this vast collection in the mid 1960's and  continued right up until recent years.  The collection consisted mainly of three segments - a vast general collection of worldwide specimens, a large  and important Franklin suite, and an impressive fluorescent display.  The general collection is remarkably comprehensive with specimens from  famous and obscure localities alike, specimens of historic and scientific import, "rare uglies" and aesthetic masterpieces - all ranging in size  from micro to huge, museum-sized specimens! Within the general collection are several noteworthy, species specific suites of  fluorite, willemite, cassiterite, pyrite and prehnite - each impressive in size and scope!  The collection was also rich in diversity,  representing over 3,000 species with most of the noteworthy rarities including relevant analytical data!
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