Gold on Quartz
Badger Mine (Prescott Mine; Prescott Lode claim), Quartzburg, Hornitos Mining District, West Belt, Mariposa County, California
This exceptional gold specimen displays bold, sharply defined gold crystals rising elegantly from a natural quartz cavity. Thick, lustrous gold plates dominate the structure, while finer, leaf-like crystal growth adds intricate detail against the bright white quartz matrix. In select areas, later-stage crystallization has formed small open pockets lined with delicate, sponge-textured native gold, creating remarkable depth and visual complexity. The gold is notably dense and richly colored, showing strong, even saturation that contrasts beautifully with the quartz. Toward the base, the quartz transitions into iron-oxide–rich material, where natural flashes of gold remain visible within the darker matrix. This is a visually striking, well-balanced specimen with outstanding presence.
12 x 9 x 7 mm
0.83 gram