Gold on Quartz
Badger Mine (Prescott Mine; Prescott Lode claim), Quartzburg, Hornitos Mining District, West Belt, Mariposa County, California
This exceptional gold specimen features bold, sharp gold crystals rising beautifully from a quartz cavity. Thick, gleaming gold plates form the main structure, while smaller, leaf-like crystals add fine detail against the bright white quartz. In some areas, later crystal growth created small open pockets filled with delicate, sponge-textured native gold, giving the piece added depth and character. The gold is dense and richly colored, with a strong, even saturation that contrasts strikingly with the quartz. Toward the base, the quartz gradually blends into iron-oxide–rich material, where natural flashes of gold can be seen within the darker matrix.
18 x 12 x 10 mm
1.23 grams