0.100g Natural Crystalline Gold Specimen – Badger Mine, Mariposa County, California

A beautiful 0.100g natural crystalline gold specimen from the historic Badger Mine (Prescott Mine), Mariposa County, California, USA.

This is not a conventional placer nugget. The specimen displays an intricate leafy, branching and dendritic crystalline structure, producing an impressive visual footprint despite its tiny 0.100g weight. Viewed under magnification, the gold reveals an extraordinary network of naturally formed surfaces, cavities and projecting crystal growth.

Badger Mine is particularly associated with highly collectible native gold showing broad, leafy crystal growth and branching structures. Specialist examples from the locality are described as having a much greater visual presence than their mass would suggest because of this open style of crystallisation.

The photographs show this characteristic particularly well. Both sides exhibit complex three-dimensional development, with numerous reflective crystalline faces creating exceptional lustre as the specimen is moved under light.

Specimen Details

Mineral: Native Gold
Weight: 0.100g
Locality: Badger Mine (Prescott Mine)
District: Quartzburg / Hornitos Mining District, West Belt
County: Mariposa County
State: California, USA
Morphology: Leafy / branching / dendritic crystalline gold
Appearance: Bright metallic gold with highly textured crystalline surfaces
Collector Grade: Very Good–Excellent
Type: Natural mineral specimen — not manufactured or refined bullion
Comparable documented Badger Mine material demonstrates the locality's characteristic leaf-like crystalline gold, including fine sponge-textured growth and highly lustrous surfaces.

You will receive the exact specimen photographed. Because this is a natural formation, its irregular shape, crystal structure and surface characteristics are unique.