Crystalized Leaf Gold -
Folsom Mining District, Sacramento, California
 
One of the finest crystallized gold specimens known from the Folsom locality, this remarkable piece showcases a striking three-dimensional leaf of native gold. Its unique crystal habit features multiple stacked plates of leaf gold, some delicately folded and others inverted, creating a rich and intricate architecture. The surface displays a vibrant, mirror-like luster with a deep, warm yellow color that immediately draws the eye. Toward the upper section, the specimen reveals an exceptional surprise with its branching spinel-law–twinned crystals, among the rarest forms found in native gold. Several elongated crystals extend outward in nearly wire-like habits, their sharply defined faces shimmering under light. This combination of leaf structure, complex layering, and rare spinel-law twinning makes the specimen an extraordinary example for discerning collectors.
40 x 23 x 14 mm
5.17 grams