A rare, old time example of native gold from this historic California locale!!! Gold was originally discovered in Bodie in 1859 however it wasn't until
the late 1870's that the town's boom began after the Standard Company discovered particularly profitable gold ore there!!! As with the great
majority of the great 19th century boomtowns, Bodie gradually declined by the early 1900's and eventually turned into a ghost town!!! This specimen
consists of a matrix comprised of quartz crystals covered by a layer of albite crystals that hosts numerous scattered crystals of
native gold distributed throughout the albite!!! In addition to the native gold, there are numerous areas of an unidentified darkly colored
mineral as well!!! The native gold is present as numerous submillimeter crystals that are brilliant and well crystallized!!! Upon close
inspection with a loupe or scope, one can see that there are numerous tiny crystals of gold scattered all throughout the albite crystals!!!
The dark, metallic mineral in association is present as elongated masses - many of which appear to have thick, concentric layers of chalcedony (or similar
material) around them!!! Upon close inspection with a loupe or scope there are a few minute areas where native gold is intimately associated
with this darkly colored mineral (the mineral is also somewhat malleable, not unlike acanthite)!!!
This is rare, old time material!!! This specimen is from the personal collection of Bob Jenkins and retains his original
personal collection label and affixed catalogue number as well!!!
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 MONDAY NIGHT FOR A SPECIAL 3-DAY AUCTION, ENDING THURSDAY MARCH 1st!!!
**We have just returned from the annual Gem & Mineral Show in Tucson, Arizona!!! Be sure to stay tuned as we will be listing our exciting acquisitions throughout the next coming weeks!!!***
