NATIVE GOLD. Eagle's Nest Mine, Michigan Bluff Dist., Placer Co., California, USA. ...

Description

NATIVE GOLD
Eagle's Nest Mine, Michigan Bluff Dist., Placer Co., California, USA

Over thirty years ago, wonderfully crystallized Gold specimens started to appear on the collector market. The origin of these captivating wonders was somewhat vague and ambiguous: i.e. "the Michigan Bluff District". Later on the locality became known as the "Mystery Wind Mine" but no additional details were provided. The reason for this situation has become clearer with the passage of years. A combination of claim consolidation, ownership disputes, and more than one of the claims producing similar specimens contributed to this state of affairs. That situation has been remedied when the correct mine name, Eagle's Nest, was revealed and the precise location clarified.

The tendency of most Eagle's Nest specimens to appear as sheets or plates of flattened, octahedral crystals often leads to comparisons with other natural objects such as certain forms of sea life: seaweed, for example, come to mind. Undulating "fronds" of planar gold crystals of brilliantly metallic luster rise from a "reef" of white Quartz. Besides the visible Gold there is a significant amount still hidden within the interior of the Quartz. What is visible shows the rich "Gold" color is typical of high purity Gold and the thousands of tiny crystal faces covering the plates produce a scintillating appearance that, in combination with the color, overwhelms the eye.
Overall measurements: 5.5 x 4 x .75 inches (14 x 10.2 x 1.9 cm). Offered at no reserve.

Provenance: Kristalle [Hoppel Catalog # D1994]


[Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]



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