Visitors to the Natural History Museum, London, can now get up close to a rare, crystallised gold specimen, nicknamed the Dragon due to its spectacular appearance. Considered
to be one of the finest mineral treasures in the world, the Dragon is on loan from the Houston Museum of Natural Science and is making its debut in the UK.
The Dragon can be found on display in the Museum’s recently refurbished
Vault,
at the far end of the Minerals Gallery. The working vault doubles as a unique gallery space, housing some of nature’s most unique and valuable treasures from the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, an unrivalled collection of 296 coloured diamonds and the Devonshire Emerald
– one of the biggest and most richly coloured emeralds ever discovered.
A Natural History Museum Mineral Curation spokesperson says:
“The Dragon is such a famous specimen, it’s great to have it on display for the next year alongside other treasures of the mineralogical kingdom. Being able to contrast the absolute perfection of its gold crystals with the tactile rounded crystals of the
Latrobe nugget, displayed nearby, is both a unique opportunity and a real treat for anyone interested in and inspired by the most noble of metals.”
Beautifully crystallised gold is rare, and the well-formed crystals on this majestic specimen make it an outstanding find. Miners searching for gold in a region famous
for producing collectable specimens discovered it within the wall of an underground mine. To ensure it was removed without damage, they used a metal detector to pinpoint its exact position. The surrounding rock and clay were then painstakingly removed, slowly
revealing the gold crystals in their natural form.
With its remarkable, glittering dragon-like form and bright lustre, this specimen is a masterpiece of the mineral world.
The Dragon replaces a piece of the Winchombe meteorite, from the first meteorite fall to have been recovered in the UK for 30 years, which will be on display in the Museum’s
brand new Space:
Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? exhibition which opens on 16 May 2025
