Gold Wires on Limonite
Farncomb Hill, French Gulch, Breckenridge Mining District, Summit County, Colorado, USA
 
This highly unusual and exceptional gold specimen comes from Colorado and showcases a striking cluster of naturally formed wire gold. The gold has grown into a complex, three-dimensional structure, with some wires branching outward while others are intricately interwoven and overlapping, almost like tangled strands of thread. These wire-like formations are known as wire crystal habits, which describe the natural shapes that crystals take as they grow. Upon close inspection, some of the gold crystals are textured and some sparkle with a bright metallic luster, while others appear reflecting less light. The reverse side of the specimen reveals a dense, layered mass of spongy gold crystals that have grown together in multiple stages, along with additional fine wire gold weaving through the structure. The base (or back) of the specimen rests on a dark mineral known as hematite, which is rich in iron oxide and provides a striking contrast to the brilliant yellow of the gold. Specimens like this, combining complex wire formations and a hematite matrix, are extremely rare from this locality and are seldom available to mineral collectors making this a truly special and highly sought-after piece.

19 x 14 x 7 mm
1.18 grams