Native Gold Crystal. Icabarú. Bolívar. Venezuela. ...

Description

Native Gold Crystal
Icabarú
Bolívar
Venezuela

Referred to as "#3" in the Roraima Shield Collection, this is considered "Number One" by many as it is widely regarded as the world's most beautiful piece of Gold. A truly magnificent specimen, the special piece consists of a complex group of crystals with both octahedral and tetrahexahedral structures. The core hoppered skeletal octahedron is slightly distorted and is replete with skeletal ribs. Other, smaller hopper structures and crystalline formations add further technical complexity to the amazing mineral.

The variety of connected structures results in an outstanding aesthetic appeal. Not to put too fine of a point on it, the late former Curator of the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and a truly legendary figure in the Fine Minerals community, Paul Desautels, declared this "The world's most beautiful piece of Gold." The crystal is not only quite large and complex but is also exceptionally sharp.

This glorious crystal cluster has been featured in the Lapis Gold (extra) English in 2003. An appraisal on this piece in 2015 suggested a value of $600,000. The piece weighs 89.9 grams (2.89 oz t). Another bonus aspect of this landmark Gold crystal is that it is impactful from multiple, in fact, from any orientation. There are even some microscopic tiny Quartz grains in the crevasses typical of alluvial Gold.

The offering is simply incredible when viewed in person with a dynamic quality and displaying an intricate metallic cluster of Gold. The contrast of differing sizes and forms within the natural latticework is complicated and not easy to take in with just one viewing. This is a beautiful and unparalleled example of Crystallized Gold from the locality of Icabarú, Venezuela. The Gold appears to have high purity given the brilliant luster.
Measurements: 1.54 x 1.37 x 1.04 x inches (3.91 x 3.47 x 2.64 cm), weighs 89.9 grams (2.89 oz t)

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