Gold on Gold - unusual crystal

Item Description

This large crystal seems to be a single crystal, complete all around, that formed first as a large spinel twin, flattened out, and then had a secondary crystal layer of smaller sharp gold crystals form upon it (perhaps epitaxial, related to the original axis?). When you look at the patterning, it is just very detailed and mesmerizing, and different than others. All of the smaller crystals are angled geometrically in a way that relates to the larger crystal on which they rest. It seems like this formed as a crystal specimen, but the backside got squashed or pressured into a flat, rounded plate, while somehow the other side was preserved with its original sharpness intact! These formed hundreds of millions of years ago. It is a miracle that ANY crystals survive without being squashed into nuggets. But this shows a story - it is a nugget on one side, and a fascinating mix of crystal types, on the other. You would never know this is the same specimen, looking at either side. 10.97 grams of pure gold, and such an imposing, large thumbnail, with a big visual area relative to the weight. Found in the last few years by a metal detector in this old historic district.