Native Gold

The tiny headland of Hope’s Nose in the Wellswood district of Torquay, Devon, became famous worldwide following the discovery of dendritic crystallised Native Gold within Calcite veins crossing the wave-cut platform. This charming large thumbnail is a plate of pinkish cream Calcite, both sides displaying fine arborescent dendrites of buttery-rich metallic golden Native Gold forming linked sprays up to 1.5 cm long. The Native Gold is readily visible and under low (say, x5) magnification, reveals the exquisite crystallised structures that Native Gold at this locality is renowned for.