Native Gold on Lead-Arsenic Matrix 
Placerville, California
This extraordinary, rare gold specimen is composed of tick dendritic gold crystals with various crystallized habits on an unusually rare matrix of lead and arsenic. Some areas display intergrown leafy crystals with cuboctahedron crystal habits in between. The native gold is very angular and sharp edges with good lustrous faces. There are some quartz overlaying on the lower areas of matrix in between the gold crystals which display appealing aesthetics and great contrast. The dark matrix composed of lead and arsenic are never reported found in nature from this locality and is a first of its kind. The clear representation of dendritic gold branches and the darker matrix is a prime example for its locality. The wire gold on the matrix is a surprisingly high purity and completely connected with the main crystallized native gold cluster. The matrix displays a slight iridescence of dark blue to purple oxidation in some areas from mixing with oxygen in the air gives it a beautiful color.
24 x 15 x 10.50 mm 
5.99 grams
#290