Native Gold, Pyrite, & Quartz "Banket" "New Reef", Ferreira Gold Mine, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa 5.04cm x 2.82cm x 2.02cm 1.75cm x 1cm x .4cm circa 1904

Description/Interesting Notes: A historic example of native gold from South Africa!!! This is a pair of specimens - one consists of gold-bearing (Auriferous) pyrite richly distributed throughout quartz conglomerate known as "banket" and the other specimen consists of a rare example of visible native gold in the same quartz "banket" matrix!!! This conglomerate is called "banket" because of its similar appearance to a particular Dutch pastry of the same name!!! This is specimen is from the famed Witwatersrand - which has been the source of more than 40% of all the world's gold!!! The vast majority of gold recovered at this incredible locality is recovered from the gold-bearing (auriferous) pyrite!!! The larger specimen is a particularly rich ore specimen (assay notes are on the old label!) that hosts a very rich showing of auriferous pyrite throughout (sometimes these "bankets" only have thin stringers of auriferous-pyrite snaking through large cobbles of quartz)!!! The smaller specimen exhibits an unusually rich example of eye-visible native gold (something that is very uncommon in this material)!!! The native gold has a rich hue and is very bright!!! There is a small amount of pyrite in association with the gold as well!!! Upon close examination one can see that the matrix of both specimens is quite similar indeed!!! The old label is dated March 1st, 1904!!! The larger specimen also has an affixed label in the same hand that mentions Ferrerira and "New Reef" (Reef is another name, particular to this region, that is used in reference to this famed material)!!! Simply a wonderful example of this famed species from a historic locality!!! 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!!! STAY TUNED!!! MORE AUCTIONS WILL BE ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT FOR A SPECIAL 5-DAY AUCTION, ENDING THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29th!!!

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