Crystallized Sponge Gold on quartz
El Dorado County, California
This highly aesthetic gold specimen displays an intricate form of crystallization known as sponge gold. Its surface is composed of thousands of tiny intergrown crystals, creating a distinctive sponge-like texture. The gold fully envelopes the quartz matrix, and its rich buttery-yellow color provides striking contrast against the bright white quartz. Numerous robust, overlapping clusters of native gold cover the specimen, with a few short leafy crystals still attached, enhancing its visual complexity. The gold appears exceptionally rich and is likely of high purity, exhibiting areas of brilliant luster. Owing to its impressive size and the presence of vibrant native gold crystals on all sides of its matrix, this specimen is highly displayable. It stands as a rare and outstanding example of sponge gold from its locality.
34 x 24 x18 mm
15.81 grams