1.35" Native Gold in Shattuckite - Namibia

This is an alluring formation of native gold on/in its natural shattuckite-rich matrix. It was collected near the city of Opuwo in the Kunene Region of Namibia. The lustrous gold contrasts beautifully against the vibrant blue-green matrix.

The specimen has been mounted to an acrylic display base with mineral tack.

Gold (Au) is one of the most highly prized and widely used elements known to man. It is used in the production of jewelry, coin currency, electronics, dentistry, computers, pigments, optics, and medicine, with a wide variety of additional applications. It occurs naturally as elemental (native) gold within rocks, hydrothermal veins, and alluvial deposits, ranging in size from microscopic grains to massive nuggets depending on deposition conditions. Often it is naturally alloyed with other minerals, requiring mechanical and chemical processes to refine.

Trace amounts of gold can be found nearly everywhere throughout the lithosphere, but large deposits are only found in select locations around the world. China is by far the world's largest gold producer, producing over 400 tons of gold annually. Other countries that produce significant amounts of gold include Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Ghana, and Australia.

SOLD
DETAILS
SPECIES
Gold (Au) & Shattuckite
LOCATION
Opuwo Rural, Kunene Region, Namibia
SIZE
Entire Specimen: 1.35 x .95"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#244366