Gold on Quartz
Eagle’s Nest Mine, Forest Hill, Placer County, California, USA
6.8 x 5.6 x 3.5 cm (2.68 x 2.20 x 1.38 inches). 132 grams (.29 lb).
Source: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/natural-history-2/gold-on-quartz
This striking specimen of crystallized native gold on quartz comes from the Eagle’s Nest Mine, situated within the heart of California’s Motherlode Belt—one of the most historically and geologically significant gold-producing regions in the world.
The specimen features an intergrown formation of brilliant gold crystals, perched atop a rugged, white quartz matrix. The gold itself displays a classic warm yellow color and high metallic luster, with sharply defined crystals exhibiting a diversity of habits—octahedral forms, flattened octahedrons, spinel twins, and dendritic structures—each contributing to the visual drama and mineralogical distinction of the piece. Its overall form has been likened to a bird ready to take flight.
Gold mineralization in the Mother Lode occurred within gold-quartz veins associated with the Melones Fault Zone, dating to approximately 160 to 108 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous periods, with some mineralizing episodes continuing for millions of years. The quartz host rock here formed within younger western Mother Lode strata (~150 Ma), part of a complex sequence of accreted oceanic terranes along the edge of the North American tectonic plate. Gold from this mine typically assays at around 87.5% purity (fine gold), with about 11.5% silver, and trace amounts of elements like tin and nickel.
While many of the renowned California gold localities—such as the Colorado Quartz Mine, Red Ledge Mine, and Mockingbird Mine—are now closed, Eagle’s Nest remains the only one still in active production, operated by Eagle’s Nest Mining Corporation, a subsidiary of Fine Minerals International, under the direction of Daniel Trinchillo.
This specimen was discovered more than two decades ago, prior to current operations, and was originally held by members of the Sykora family, descendants of the Greenwood and DeMaria families, whose claims during the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s helped define the district. It was later acquired by Kristalle, the company of Wayne Leicht, from whom it was obtained by Fine Minerals International.
Combining geological heritage, crystallographic variety, and visual distinction, this is a fine representation of what continues to place Eagle’s Nest at the forefront of the world’s finest crystallized gold localities.
