PHOTOS: Black market gold

PHOTOS: Black market gold

[This post first appeared in December of 2012]

MINING.com receives numerous emails every week from around the world offering us good deals on anything from europium oxide to cold rolled steel, not to mention second-hand excavators or a discount on an Ulan Bator apartment for rent.

But this particular message sent from a nondescript gmail account that started with “Dear gold business hello” and the accompanying photos caught our eye.
PHOTOS: Black market gold
On offer was “perennial supply of gold ore” from Africa purportedly of “superior quality” but with no purity rating at “PRICE $42000 PER KG _”. The ruling price for gold on Monday was closer to $55,000 per kilogram of gold.

Like South America and parts of Asia, artisanal mining is a huge industry in Africa, but that’s still a lot of gold to have gathered in one place.

What do you think about this deal? Or is all that glisters not gold?

PHOTOS: Black market gold

PHOTOS: Black market gold

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