New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Something a little different

5AMP		Posted : Friday, 10 February 2012 2:46:54 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 3/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 57 Location: wellington Thanks: 105 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 11 post(s)		]I know this is a bit outside the usual finds but it is a brooch I bought years ago intending to take the gold in quartz out ofthe frame but then I thought it would be a shame to spoil what might be a little bit of gold mining history.It weighs approx 29 gms and is about 35mm across. It appears to be set in a stylised fern which is very crudely made out of gold. I had thought an NZ miner might have made it for his girlfriend but someone who knows about these things said the gold was probably Australian-maybe someone who came over here from Australia? File Attachment(s): IMG_0293.JPG IMG_0297.JPG

chrischch		Posted : Friday, 10 February 2012 2:50:28 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Sounds cool and interesting. Got a pic?
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Lammerlaw		Posted : Friday, 10 February 2012 2:51:52 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Bang on a photograph and we will see what it is like. At the end of the day without an analysis of the gold it might be hard to tell - if the gold has been refined and turned into another shape or form etc then you will not be able to tell where it is from - there might however be markings on the back which identify the jeweller who produced it - I have seen registration numbers and identification stamps i the form of initials but I would not know who is who.

chrischch		Posted : Friday, 10 February 2012 3:00:08 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		That is interesting. I see what you mean about not wanting to ruin it. I would feel the same way.
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

madsonicboating		Posted : Friday, 10 February 2012 3:29:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 21/03/2011(UTC) Posts: 674 Thanks: 187 times Was thanked: 157 time(s) in 127 post(s)		Yep I agree that is very cool and best left in it's made state...way cool!!
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Lammerlaw		Posted : Friday, 10 February 2012 3:48:48 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Cool - pictures to perve at - Dont be a mug and keep it as it is - It is totally unique and undoubtedly done many, many years ago for a wife, sweetheart, daughter or sister long since dead and gone. After it has survived in such nice condition all these years it would not be right to destroy its present form now. If you were near me I might well have considered trying to do a deal with you for a nugget or similar as it is an extremely nice item and decidedly different. Such a large amount of quartz with the gold sprinkled through it like it has makes it a marvellous specimen and in some ways more attractive than it would be with ten times and amount of gold and no quartz. It is hard to tell with a photo but it has an Australian look as it appears lighter as though it may have a higher silver content BUT photos can be very deceiving. The fern is a decidedly Kiwi look but then again there is no reason whatsoever that a miner who went to the Australian Goldfields and then to New Zealand would not mount an Australian specimen in a New Zealand setting. I do like it - its ace!

kiwijw		Posted : Friday, 10 February 2012 4:19:16 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		Very nice piece. Absolutly leave it as it is. Beautiful specimen piece & worth more as it is. Thanks for sharing. JW :)

Treasures		Posted : Sunday, 12 February 2012 8:34:26 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 21/01/2012(UTC) Posts: 9 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)		Hi there, that's a nice piece. You should leave it as it is. It would be a shame to alter it.

DrunkBrother		Posted : Sunday, 12 February 2012 8:44:49 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 27/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 911 Location: Auckland Thanks: 21 times Was thanked: 206 time(s) in 161 post(s)		Really really cool. Vote: Keep as it is!
		2014Rings PlT/PD=0 GOLD=30 STG=53 Junk=46
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Metal Kiwi		Posted : Sunday, 12 February 2012 9:23:46 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Yes it is quite unique and it would be really good to know it's history, buuut would a woman want to wear it today?
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Karl McDowell		Posted : Sunday, 12 February 2012 9:57:19 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 11/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 47 Location: Auckland Thanks: 13 times Was thanked: 39 time(s) in 29 post(s)		The ferns tend to suggest NZ (although ferns aren't unique to this country) but regardless of its origin it's a splendid piece of jewellery.