Gold

specimen number:
2102312

location:
Diltz Mine, Mariposa Co., California, USA

description:
Beautiful bright lustrous crystallized native gold with a little attached matrix. In great condition.

The Diltz Mine, located in the Whitlock District of Mariposa County, California, is a storied producer situated at the southern end of the Mother Lode belt. Geologically, the mine features high-grade gold-quartz veins hosted within Jurassic-age metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, where hydrothermal activity deposited elemental gold in fractured zones. The site is world-renowned among collectors for its exceptional specimens of crystallized gold, which often manifest as delicate leafy plates, bright octahedrons, and intricate arborescent (tree-like) structures within vuggy white quartz. Historically, the Diltz Mine was discovered during the mid-19th century gold rush and saw several periods of intense underground mining and quarrying, most notably during the early 1900s and again in the 1930s when the price of gold was revalued. Operations were characterized by the discovery of extremely rich "pockets" that yielded legendary specimen gold rather than just industrial bullion. While commercial production has been intermittent since the mid-20th century, the mine has remained active for specimen recovery into the 21st century, continuing its legacy as one of the premier localities for native California gold crystals.

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