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Gold & Nepheline

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MGR970393

Gold & Nepheline

New Discovery

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Aouint Ighoumane, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region, Morocco
Class: 
Combination
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
4.8 × 3.8 × 1 cm
Description

This is from a small isolated new discovery - it is a big difference between nuggets (there are tons of them from all around the world to Gold crystals and to pieces on matrix. And when you look at matrix material - most; like all this stuff from California; is not really natural. Nearly all of them are etched out from  Quartz. This new pieces from Morocco were grown in clefts and develop free-standing wires and leaves. I saw nearly the whole discovery - the habit is very uncommon and compared with already well known localities you will only find a few similar pieces. From all specimen 98% are pure Gold, clusters as floater. Only a low number show the unique combination with Nepheline - this is the first recorded discovery of this combination world-wide, and I selected only the finest ones.

The piece is developed as floater, it is wonderful and you only have to look at my photo to see how aesthetic it is. Between all these thin wires you can see well shaped elongated crystals of Nepheline. The piece is in perfect condition and looks great 360°.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Gold

Formula: 
Au
Strunz: 
1.AA.05
Crystal System: 
Isometric
Hardness: 
2.5 - 3.0

Nepheline

Formula: 
(Na,K)AlSiO4
Strunz: 
9.FA.05
Hardness: 
5.5 - 6.0
Type Locality: 
Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy