Sadly, Lawrence Dechard (‘Larry’) Queen Jnr. passed away in October. Larry was a bit of an expert on the geology and mining industry across Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. His presentation on the crystalline specimen gold from Papua New Guinea in particular was memorable.

Here is his abstract from the 2001 Australasian Mineralogical Societies Seminar in Hobart, Tasmania.

Specimen Gold from Papua New Guinea

Although gold has been mined in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for over 100 years, native gold specimens were rarely preserved prior to the discovery of gold at Mt Kare in 1988.  The discovery of gold at Mt Kare resulted in gold rush that ultimately involved 5000 to 8000 people.  Estimates of the amount of gold recovered during the rush vary widely from 100,000 to 500,000 Oz. 

For the mineral collector, the most significant aspect to this discovery was the recovery of significant amounts of crystalline gold.  Unusual for an alluvial deposit many of the Mt Kare gold nuggets show some crystalline form.  Most of the crystalline nuggets found in the early days of the rush show some degree of abrasion or folding of the flattened crystals.

Gold from Mt. Kare ranges in fineness from 710-960 averaging around 790.  Specimen gold has been recovered from the alluvial and colluvial deposits and more recently deeply weathered bedrock.  

Rounded nuggets more typical of alluvial gold comes from the Lubu Creek and Maratana an area, while most of the crystalline material comes from the Kare Puga area.

Besides Mt Kare, PNG has several other localities that have produced either attractive gold nuggets (Simbai and Amenab) or crystalline gold specimens (Edie Creek, Porgera, Kainantu, Tolukuma and Wapolu).

Both Simbai and Amenab are noted for producing high fineness (>950 fine) gold nuggets weighing up to several ounces. Prior to the discovery of Mt Kare nuggets from these areas were the main source of jewellery nuggets from PNG.

Porgera has produced some crystalline gold specimen very similar in appearance to material from Mt. Kare.  Kainantu, Tolukuma and Waplou have all produced some crystalline gold, mostly in the form of micromount material.

Edie Creek in the Wau District is other major source of gold specimens from PNG.  The gold from Edie Creek has a fineness of 500-600 and thus has an almost silver appearance.  Specimens from Edie Creek consist largely of masses of fine crystalline gold wires.  Masses containing up to several ounces of gold wires have been found but they very friable and tend to fall apart when they are collected.

Below: Larry and Bec Queen at the seminar dinner.

Below: Gold from the Enterprise Mine, Edie Creek goldfield, Morobe goldfields, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, acquired from Larry at one of the seminars. Width of view 9mm.