UNIVAZ-09
Gold
Empire Mine, Grass Valley, Nevada Co., California, USA
Small Cabinet, 5.6 x 4.9 x 2.3 cm
Ex. University of Arizona Mineral Museum
SOLD
This specimen features a brilliantly sparkling "bush" of hefty crystallized gold, perched atop quartz matrix. The gold is made up of small crystals with sparkling reflections. It is displayable quite nicely from either side; and masses 82 grams (approx 2.6 ounces). This is an oldtime specimen from a locality first reported in the late 1800s, and from which many of the older US museum pieces have come. The old mines here were nearly exhausted by the mid-1900s and attributed pieces are uncommon today. This piece was sold by California dealer Cal Graeber to Hubert de Monmonier, from an old collection. From the collection of Hubert De Monmonier (1919-2007), donated by bequest to the University of Arizona Museum to add to their displays and to provide specimens for sale to establish an endowment fund for museum operations, in perpetuity.