Gold in Quartz. Atlin Mining Division. British Columbia. Canada. ...

Description

Gold in Quartz
Atlin Mining Division
British Columbia
Canada

The Atlin area of British Columbia in Canada is well known as a prolific Gold producing region, and the geological events of the location have helped produced large and significant Gold nuggets and specimens. This massive, and somewhat rounded, specimen has been named the "Escapee" as it, apparently, has avoided geological events that would have resulted in it being crushed or flattened like other samples. Previous mining activity between 1899 and 1920 discovered Gold nuggets in gravel but that remained until improved techniques allowed for better recovery from the tailings. Millions of years of erosion of the bedrock resulted in Gold grains being concentrated along the numerous creek valleys in the region.

The "Escapee" took on a round shape that allowed it to tumble, rather than getting crushed, into smaller pieces. When the glaciers melted forming huge rivers, the "Escapee" again tumbled along a river bottom rather than getting flattened like other nuggets that get trapped under a waterfall. When the Gold Rush of 1899 flooded the area, after the discovery of the coveted precious metal in the Pine Creek stream bed, the "Escapee" was likely lying in the gravel merely 1,000 feet from the discovery. The "Escapee" made a final getaway by failing to get trapped by the sluice boxes of the period and went into the pile of tailings. For some 90 years, the "Escapee" remained in the tailings pile. Even modern equipment including better sluice boxes did not reveal the nugget until it was ultimately recovered through use of a metal detector!

This hearty mass of Gold in Quartz, which has remained secured in a safe deposit box for some 25 years, has been tested using Specific Gravity to determine it contains some 9.5 troy ounces of Gold. This is one unique example with an uncommon visual appearance and an amazing story of how it came to be here.
Overall Measurements: 4.99 x 3.78 x 2.49 inches (12.67 x 9.60 x 6.33 cm), total weight 1,250 grams (9.50 oz t)


[Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]

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