It has been confirmed that the 7.68oz piece of gold that was found decades ago in Venezuela is in fact a single crystal. This validation makes it the largest single crystal piece of gold known in existence. Generally, gold that is found in the ground will have a polycrystalline structure where its components are of various shapes and sizes. The unbroken mono-crystalline structure is much more rare and of higher value. The gold was examined at the Los Alamos Library in New Mexico where scientists looked deep into the construction of the gold nugget using neutron diffractometry; this allows them to study its make-up more thoroughly. Researchers are now preparing a scientific report after a vigorous study of the nugget, which they hope will reveal how the pieces formed.
