Beschreibung:

Mandiana Region, Eastern Guinea, West Africa Possibly the only specimen of its kind from Eastern Guinea, the rare Peace Keeper Nugget was discovered in 1997 by local miners using labor-intensive traditional excavation techniques. In elluvial nuggets such as this, the host rock itself is eroded away from the specimen, leaving distinctive features of natural gold growth, as beautifully exemplified by the present specimen. Most nuggets are alluvial, meaning that they have been transported from their source rock by water erosion; while in transport, unique features are lost from erosive forces. Further enhancing its value, gold from this region is unusually pure (950-960 fine), producing a brilliant luster not seen in most elluvial nuggets, which contain a higher silver content. Traditional local mining methods in use at the time of the discovery of this remarkable specimen required four-to-six person teams, often families, to dig a vertical shaft 30-40 feet deep, approximately three feet wide, exposing the pay gravel. Lowered into the shaft, an individual would manually remove gravel, place it in a gourd, then send it to the surface for panning. These historic methods were kept in place by the mining concession in order to assist local miners in maintaining their livelihoods. The Peace Keeper Nugget represents one of the world’s finest and rarest specimen nuggets, displaying sharp, well-defined faces and even some crystalline features. Its color indicates a very high gold content. The acquisition of this incomparable piece is as a singular opportunity. Weighs 1382.5 grams, or 44.45 troy ounces