PLATINUM NUGGET. ...

Description

PLATINUM NUGGET
Tura River, Perm, Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Middle Ural Mountains, Russia
When you compare the number of large gold nuggets against their Platinum counterparts, one fact becomes very apparent: there are much fewer pieces of native Platinum discovered every year than gold ones. Part of this has to do with the much smaller number of producing localities for Platinum. Part of it has to do with the much smaller size of known Platinum specimens. The end result is that nuggets, such as this one, are very rarely found and given their intrinsic value, even more rarely preserved. Unlike the stream-worn masses normally seen, this sparkling, crystalline mass shows little or no effects due to such wear. Chances are that it hadn't moved very far from its place of origin. The label from Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd of London gives the locality as "Perm, Ural Mountains, Russia". Today this locality is best referred to as "Tura River, near Perm, Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Middle Urals, Russia". It is quite sizable at 45.4 grams (1.45 troy oz.) and shows a dark associated mineral present as minute interstitial grains among the Platinum crystals. In addition to the GB&L label there is a more recent one indicating that it was part of the collection of John Marshall, well known East Coast collector now deceased. It bears his accession number JHM 4304. In excellent condition it measures 1 ¼ x ¾ x ¾ inch.

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