Gold on Quartz
Badger Mine (Prescott Mine; Prescott Lode claim), Quartzburg, Hornitos Mining District, West Belt, Mariposa County, California
This remarkable gold specimen showcases a dramatic display of sharp-edged, robust gold crystals branching gracefully from a prominent quartz core. Thick, lustrous gold plates dominate the structure, accented by smaller leaf habits with intricate stepped crystals of native gold. In several areas, secondary growth has formed delicate cavities filled with finely textured, sponge-like gold adding a level of complexity that commands attention. The gold itself is impressively dense, with a rich, saturated color and a striking contrast that carries consistently across the entire piece. Its bright white quartz matrix gradually transitions into iron-oxide–rich sulfides toward the base, where flashes of gold crystals are naturally infused into the darker material. This specimen stands as a sculptural masterpiece, an exceptional example of crystallized gold and a superb representation of its classic locality.
38 x 37 x 15 mm
9.92 grams