Cosalite with Native Gold in Quartz - Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine, British Columbia, Canada

This Canadian specimen features metallic cosalite with native gold and pyrite in a white quartz matrix. The cosalite form silvery-grey lathes and, along with brassy pyrite, dominates across the white quartz, creating strong contrast. Some of the cosalite lathes are quite broad and others better described as needle-like. Native gold is sprinkled about on several sides of the specimen creating a classic specimen from a classic locality.

Cosalite is an uncommon lead-bismuth sulfosalt for which the Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine is a significant Canadian locality. The mine is situated near Wells in British Columbia’s historic Cariboo Mining Division and is known for gold-bearing quartz veins containing cosalite and other sulphide and sulfosalt minerals.

The specimen has documented provenance from Calgarian Mike Clark who obtained it from his close colleague and friend, Mike Evick. Both were dedicated field collectors who focused on western Canadian minerals. This specimen, however, was probably unearthed long before the two Mikes were on the scene. It is believed most cosalite specimens from the Cariboo Quartz Mine were collected by a miner in the 1940s and have been slowly changing hands ever since. These are all historical pieces in my opinion and this is a particularly nice example.

Mineral: Cosalite with Native Gold in Quartz
Locality: Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine, Wells, British Columbia, Canada
Crystal System: Orthorhombic (Cosalite)
Mineral Class: Sulfosalts
Provenance: Ex Mike Clark Collection; Ex Mike Evick Collection
Dimensions: 5.5 × 4.5 × 4 cm