Gold nuggets are the ultimate prize for all prospectors and, as one of the most well-known minerals on earth, it has long since been hailed for its value and special properties.
Gold is a rarity, but finding a gold nugget in its natural form is even more elusive, according to gold jeweler Golpira.
In most cases, gold is much smaller, at times difficult to see with the naked human eye, yet we remain captivated with this mineral, with many hobbyists dedicating their lives to its pursuit.
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Considering the intrigue, here are six interesting things to know about the gold nugget:
1. Formation and value —The value of gold and silver nuggets are high because of the duration of time it takes for them to form, according to Apmex. Gold is formed at high temperatures, which do not occur at the earth’s surface, meaning they are formed deep underground and eventually migrate towards the surface through geological processes and weathering over time.
2. Nuggets are not pure gold —Gold nuggets, which are formed when liquid travels through cracks of rock, are only around 95 percent gold, with the remainder comprising silver or copper, according to gold trader Nuggets by Grant.
3. Largest nugget found — There are several gold nuggets currently in existence alleged to be the “biggest in the world” but one of the most famous is “Hand of Faith,” discovered in 1980 and weighing just under 60 pounds, according to The Gold Seekers.
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4. Rarity — Gold is a rare mineral but a gold nugget in its original form is even more so, with less than 2 percent of gold recovered in the form of a nugget, GoldRushNugget.com noted.
5. Best places to find gold — Gold has been found in nearly every U.S. state, with the highest production in the West. Five states where gold nuggets are still found are Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon, RareGoldNuggets.com reported.
6. There are several varieties — Gold nuggets do not come in one standard form. Instead, there are different varieties such as nuggets in quartz, which are usually white in color, and nuggets in ironstone, which are the most common and feature concave or convex facets and contain black or reddish ironstone. You can also find nuggets in glacial streams, which form in icy streams in Alaska and New Zealand and are considered to be the least pure, Nuggets by Grant noted.
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