Native Gold Crystals on Quartz
Zacatecas, Mexico
 
This extraordinary native gold specimen represents one of the finest crystallized golds ever discovered from this exceptionally rare Mexican locality. It is among the first specimens from the deposit to exhibit crystal development of this caliber, making it a landmark example for serious collectors. The specimen is covered with exceptionally sharp, well-defined gold crystals, many of which consist of stacked octahedral crystals that display classic spinel-law twinning. Under magnification, several crystals reveal skeletal dodecahedral growth, a highly desirable and uncommon crystal habit, enhanced by remarkable luster that gives the specimen exceptional visual brilliance. To date, only two specimens of this extraordinary crystallized quality have ever been documented from Mexico, and this example ranks among the very best. The intricate cluster of crystallized native gold is beautifully perched on a contrasting white quartz matrix, creating a striking natural composition that further enhances its display appeal.
26 x 21 x 12 mm
4.89 grams