CC50302
NATIVE GOLD in CALCITE
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Description
Hope's Nose in Devon is probably the best known source of specimen-grade Native Gold in England, but specimens are usually small. It is not a mine and never has been, but this tiny headland has produced some of the most remarkable crystallized Native Gold seen in the UK. The site was originally discovered on a field trip from Kings College (London) in 1922 but was forgotten about until mineral collectors rediscovered it in the late 1970s. Hosted in Devonian limestones, the mineralized veins have been found to contain many rare minerals, including one new species, the most famous and collectable being Native Gold. Collecting is now illegal and strictly banded, but specimens are in older collections and periodically come up for sale. This remarkable specimen is colossal in size compared to most seen from Hope's Nose, but not only that, it is extremely richly invested in Native Gold. In common with all those from there, the Native Gold is exposed by etching away the Calcite using hydrochloric acid. The Native Gold is not massive, or as veinlets, but is stunningly well-crystallized as majestic buttery-golden dendritic fronds, like golden fern leaves. Zoom in on the specimen image and this amazing crystallized texture becomes apparent. This superb specimen was in the Siber and Siber gold collection in Switzerland.
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