Gold on quartz

Incredible collectible specimen: A huge Crystallized Gold “Cosmos” on white Quartz from the Oriental Mine, Allegheny Mining District, southwestern Sierra County California, USA

Crystallized Gold is one of the most appealing varieties of mineral specimens in no small part due to the fact that most everyone is enamored with Gold as a precious metal. The prized nature and value of Gold is clear throughout ages of human history, and the element today is still a benchmark of financial status.

This truly incredible collectible huge specimen of Crystallized Gold on Quartz hails from the renowned Oriental Mine in California. The Oriental Mine is known for spectacular Gold specimens which have been mined there since the late 1800s.The Oriental Mine is in fact the longest, continually operated gold mine in California. The mine is located in the Allegheny Mining District in southwestern Sierra County California.

These specimens developed in Quartz veins and exhibit the native, coarse form of Gold. This rather outstanding piece displays shining dodecahedral crystals of Gold rising up from the interior of a white Quartz matrix. As Gold is a precious metal, it is not hard to see why Oriental Mine pieces are so recognizable and highly collectible. This fine example features bright leaves of highly detailed and lustrous crystallized Gold which splay up and out from the rich milky white core of the stunning specimen. The contrast of the golden hue against a white matrix is sublime. The impressive specimen, which is visually stunning on all sides, is in pristine condition and accompanied by a custom labeled acrylic base. This is a serious collector specimen worthy of the finest collection and display case.

There is also an important note of provenance worth mentioning related to this piece. It was once in the personal collection of the Oriental mine owner Donald R. Dickey attesting to its superb nature as one of the best specimens to come out of the world renowned and historically relevant mining district location. For over 50 years Don has mined, collected and preserved numerous gold specimens through selective mining at the Oriental mine.

This specimen was over a decade in the display exhibition in the L.A. County Museum of Natural History. A real national treasure.

Location: From Oriental Mine, Allegheny Mining District, southwestern Sierra County California, USA

Provenance: Ex- Donald R. Dickey and L.A. County Museum of Natural History and Wayne and Dona Leicht (Kristalle)

Measures: 13.0 cm by 6.8 cm by 12.5 cm in total size

Weight: 409,5 grams, containing 12.1 troy ounces of Gold

And many thanks to Laszlo Kupi from Finemineralphotography for this fantastic shot! @finemineralphotography