ncat JLMAR02 JL618 Gold, Sofala Mine, Sofala, Roxburgh Co., New South Wales

A 2mm wide gold crystal with a face! Pareidolia! Ex Joan Lamond Collection.

Pareidolia is defined as the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. It is the human ability to see shapes or make pictures out of randomness. Think about the “Man on the Moon” for example.

Like many others, I often see faces in shapes. This is one example. It is a small, slightly rounded gold crystal just 2mm across. And it has a grouchy face! It is even sticking its tongue out.

Click on the image below for a higher resolution version.