Talutium (ta.lu.tsi.um) L.
means large deposits of gold hidden just beneath the soil.
It is
an obscure Latin word first used by philosopher Pliny to describe unusually large sloping mounds of gold
hidden from plain sight. It represents the
amazing hidden potential in many real estate transactions. Potential
that often translates into success and profit if you simply dig
a little under the surface.
From philosopher
Pliny:
"Gold
in our part of the world-not to speak of the Indian gold obtained
from ants or the gold dug up by griffins in Scythia is obtained
in three ways: in the detritus of rivers, for instance in the
Tagus in Spain, the Po in Italy, the Maritza (Hebrus) in Thrace,
the Sarabat (Pactolus) in Asia Minor and the Ganges in India;
and there is no gold that is in a more perfect state, as it is
thoroughly polished by the mere friction of the current. Another
method is by sinking shafts; or it is sought for in the fallen
debris of mountains. Each of these methods must be described.
People seeking for gold begin by getting up (searching for) segullum
- that is the name for earth that indicates the presence of gold.
(Beneath) this is a pocket of sand, which is washed, and from
the sediment left an estimate of the vein is made. Sometimes by
a rare piece of luck a pocket is found immediately, on the surface
of the earth, as occurred recently in Dalmatia when Nero was emperor,
one yielding fifty pounds weight of gold a day. Gold found in
this way in the surface crust is called talutium if there is also
auriferous earth underneath. The otherwise dry, barren mountains
of the Spanish provinces, which produce nothing else whatever
is forced into fertility in regard to this commodity."
