Despite a low estimate of $200,000 US, a crystallized gold specimen sourced from Brazil realized only $156,250 US (about $220,500 Cdn.) in the March 14 Nature & Science Auction by Heritage Auctions.
Mined from the Serra do Caldeirão claims in western Brazil the 379-gram specimen features “sharply crystallized, three-dimensional shapes that are considered extremely rare for gold,” according to auctioneers, who added “maybe one in 1,000 mines produces such incredible forms” of crystallized gold.
“While gold mining takes place all over the world, crystallized specimens like the offered lot occur in just a few select locations.”
It measures 90 millimetres by 40 millimetres by 36 millimetres.