Crystallized Gold
Colorado Quartz Mine, Mariposa, California
The gold specimen here is a perfect example of intriguing crystal morphology and aesthetics. Its crystal structure exhibits an almost dendritic structure with three short thick crystal branching upwards. These crystals each display geometric shapes and slightly flatten on their tips. Throughout the native gold crystal are lustrous faces with a small quartz calcite matrix on its side. On the reverse side the surface of the native mineral is textured and layered with native gold microcrystal growth. Its crystals are overlapping and crossing one another. On its base the gold crystal display a large trigon crystal which is a modified octahedron crystal. Similarly smaller crystals of modified octahedral crystals are branched out from its sides. This gold specimen is a great example of native gold from a rare locality that does not produce any longer.
12.70 x 7 x 4.70 mm
0.64 gram