Gold on Quartz (lot of three specimens)

Item Description

This item is part of a special benefit auction for the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals (ricenorthwestmuseum.org). Items are either deaccessions from the museum's collection or were donated by generous supporters listed below.

Auction open April 1, 2021 through April 17, 2021.

Billing for this auction will occur on Monday, April 19, for payment using PayPal or credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost, or please contact brandy@mineralauctions.com if you'd like to plan on picking up items at future shows or during a stop through Dallas.

We are featuring here a group lot of three Gold-Quartz specimens from the historic Ace of Diamonds Mine in Kittitas Co., Washington. The centerpiece of this trio is a showy miniature that is rich in the yellow metal, especially in the center portion and it displays dramatically. (20.3 grams) The Gold consists of heavily interlaminated, bright yellow, small, flattened crystals or flakes of the metal that are actually growing in a vug with numerous, 2-5 mm long, milky Quartz crystals for added interest...and uniqueness for the locality. The Gold is densely aggregated in this area and the cluster measures over 2 cm across. The more massive milky-tan Quartz is laced with thin veinlets and stringers of Gold. The second piece of this group is a toenail specimen adorned by a crown of bright yellow, sculptural Gold at the top along with small knobs of Gold that contrast well with the snow-white milky Quartz. The third piece is also toenail size and is largely milky Quartz laced with thin stringers of Gold. This is a very nice assortment for this locality. Combined mass is 47.45 grams of which a fair amount can be presumed to be gold content. Measurments of the three specimens are as follows from left to right as shown in the main photo for the listing:
1) 3.3 x 2.4 x 1.7cm, 2) 3.8 x 2.3 x 2.3 cm, 3) 3.1 x 2.7 x 2.3 cm
The rich mass of gold by itself in the second (largest) piece measures 2.3cm across and about 1.4cm high!