anyone here know what this is?

[Fulvio]

nothing lasts for long I suppose

Yesssss.... something I'm finding increasingly disturbing.

I'm all for progress, having been a computer geek all my life.

But...

Far too often, its just change for the sake of change, or worse, for ulterior motives, and bugger the history.

And it seems to apply to absolutely everything. Its like we've all fallen down the rabbit hole into a world of fashionistas where anything older than five minutes just won't DO, dahlinks! Witness the flavour-of-the-moment operating systems on your computers. There was nothing wrong with most of them, and no need to obsolesce them. Well, other than to sell you new hardware and software, of course. :dodgy:

The idea of museums cashing in by ditching donations just totally sucks, IMO. Maybe I'm old school, but I remember the old Melbourne Museum and the fact that 90% of the collection was safely in the vaults. They could swap stuff around to give it all an airing now and then, but you were certain that they were doing their utmost to preserve our history.

Nowadays, meh. Its all about ticket sales and whatever's the flavour of the moment.

[serial]

interesting - your point bout museum sales
even the RAM sells off stuff

nothing lasts for long I suppose
even when we think it is safely put aside for history's sake .. pity

it is a charming lump of gold indeed

I have become disillusioned indeed, I feel that if an item is donated then it should be returned to family if unwanted, not sold off to fund the museum
and yes, it is a very cool piece, just frustrating as I have never seen something like it before, mark my words  I will figure this one out

[Fulvio]

I feel that if an item is donated then it should be returned to family if unwanted

:agreed:

Yes, absolutely! This is the only moral option, and by choosing not to do it, they're burning far more valuable goodwill than the few bucks they're likely to make.

[serial]

I feel that if an item is donated then it should be returned to family if unwanted

:agreed:

Yes, absolutely! This is the only moral option, and by choosing not to do it, they're burning far more valuable goodwill than the few bucks they're likely to make.

well as I said I for one will never donate an item, I may lend it but that is as far as I go

[Coiny Chris]

Hello,

This is the world we live in. Everything is for money. Places that once were a charity, no longer. Some scheming fink has decided to line their pockets. Taking after Politicians unfortunately.

[Fulvio]

This is the world we live in. Everything is for money.

Sad, but true. Ah, for the good old days...

[serial]

This is the world we live in. Everything is for money.

Sad, but true. Ah, for the good old days...

yes the good old days, world war, poor education, poor health care, institutionalised racism/sexism, significant gaps between the wealthy and poor, a weak justice system due to lack of forensic technology, institutional sexual abuse of youth in orphanages, churches mental institutions, lower general standard of living and far shorter life expectancy.
yup the good old days, next time you think this reflect on the medical treatment you receive today and think "would I have been able to receive this in the good old days"  and odds are the treatment wasn't even around much less affordable to the average person.

anyway on topic this is the nugget I got with this item that I now assume came from the same area. both items will be kept together now

[Fulvio]

yes the good old days, world war, poor education, poor health care, institutionalised racism/sexism, significant gaps between the wealthy and poor, a weak justice system due to lack of forensic technology, institutional sexual abuse of youth in orphanages, churches mental institutions, lower general standard of living and far shorter life expectancy.

Hrm.. I could argue those points in detail, since some haven't actually improved, but that would be hugely off-topic, so I'll desist.

Lovely nugget though. Definitely a plus having them both together. Especially if you can establish a link.

[Goldseeker]

That nugget is a specimen, that is gold and quartz together.

Still a very nice specimen.

What is the weight of the specimen?

[robbiegal]

wow is that pure gold? ex the quartz

[serial]

That nugget is a specimen, that is gold and quartz together.

Still a very nice specimen.

What is the weight of the specimen?

2.1 grams, I love it and will be keeping the 2 together.
I think the quartz makes it look better, I have a few nuggets without inclusions but this is my fav.

wow is that pure gold? ex the quartz

generally speaking WA nuggets are high purity but this baby will never be refined by me.

[robbiegal]

so is the ínclusion' the quartz?
it looks just beautiful

I grew up around copper silver lead and zinc
never really saw gold
that gold nugget is just beautiful - obviously small - but just stunning
i'm smitten!

[Goldseeker]

I have to agree with serial on the purity.   WA nuggets are pretty high in carats.

Nice looking one there for 2.1 grams.

Just looking at the amount of quartz in it I would say around 1.5 grams of gold and 0.6 grams of quartz.

[Fulvio]

so is the ínclusion' the quartz?

Yup. Its quite common to find gold and quartz together in primary deposits. That's because the gold is 'dissolved' and concentrated by hot water and precipitates out in cracks in the rocks. And quartz is similarly dissolved and precipitated.

Secondary, alluvial deposits are formed when the rocks are exposed and eroded. Then the gold is carried away in runoff and being heavier, settles at the bottom of creeks, lakes and seas.

AFAIK, gold in the eastern states is mostly alluvial, whereas WA deposits are much older, and still locked up in its original form.

(Blame my teachers for any errors in my knowledge... I never got bitten by the gold bug. :angel:)

[robbiegal]

thanks for the mineralogy lesson fulvio