Natural Native Gold Flake on Quartz Matrix
Raw Gold (Specimen, Flake, and Quartz Inlay) · Natural Yellow Gold with silver and copper trace alloys
Purity: High Purity Native Gold (typically 85% to 95% or 20K-23K)
Type
Raw Gold (Specimen, Flake, and Quartz Inlay)
Purity
High Purity Native Gold (typically 85% to 95% or 20K-23K)
Gold Type
Natural Yellow Gold with silver and copper trace alloys
Weight
Estimated total weight of 0.2 - 0.5 grams based on finger-tip scale
Description
A raw, unrefined gold flake showing natural crystallization patterns, still attached to a fragment of its host quartz. The item exhibits the characteristic buttery luster of high-purity native gold.
Key Features
Crystalline structure, jagged edges, quartz host rock attachment, and distinct metallic yellow-gold hue against white mineral
Color & Finish
Brilliant metallic yellow with a rough, jagged, crystalline surface and white quartz inclusions
Hallmarks & Stamps
None; natural geological specimens do not carry hallmarks
Dimensions Estimate
Approximately 12mm x 7mm x 1mm (Micro-specimen size)
Gemstones & Inlays
Natural milky quartz matrix (silica-based host rock)
Clasp & Closure
None (Raw geological specimen)
Chain & Links
N/A - Rough crystalline structure with irregular natural edges
Craftsmanship Details
N/A - Formed by natural hydrothermal processes; zero human craftsmanship involved beyond extraction
Authentication Indicators
Sectile (soft) appearance, lack of cleavage, high metallic luster, and non-uniform irregular growth typical of gold over sulfide minerals like pyrite
Origin & Maker
Unknown (Likely placer gold or hard rock mine from regions such as California, Alaska, or Australia)
Era & Period
Modern Discovery (Geologically ancient, Holocene to Pleistocene exposure)
Age Estimate
Billions of years (Geological age); recently extracted
Cultural Significance
Represents the primary form of wealth that drove historic movements like the California Gold Rush of 1849
Condition Notes
Natural and raw; exhibits typical jagged edges and micro-fractures associated with extraction from hard rock or alluvial deposits
Value Estimate
Based on melt value plus a 20-50% 'specimen premium' due to the quartz matrix and aesthetic shape
Care & Maintenance
Store in a protective acrylic gem jar to prevent bending or loss of the quartz attachment; do not use chemical cleaners
Similar Items
Iron Pyrite (Fool's Gold), Chalcopyrite, or Mica flakes (which are brittle rather than malleable)
Interesting Facts
Gold is often found in quartz veins because they both precipitate from hydrothermal fluids deep within the Earth's crust