It was at Moliagul on February 5, 1869 — just three-quarters of a century ago to-day — that John Deason unearthed the largest nugget of gold found in the world, — the Welcome Stranger.
How did they find the Welcome Stranger nugget?
The ‘Welcome Stranger’ nugget
It was found by Cornish miner John Deason and his partner Richard Oates near Moliagul in central Victoria, long after the initial rushes. While digging around the roots of a stringybark tree Deason discovered the nugget lying only 3 cm below the surface.
Who found the Welcome nugget in Ballarat?
It was 8.20pm on 9 June 1858, and no doubt as chilly as Ballarat night can be, when a shout rang out and history was made. Richard Jeffery , one of a party of 22 young Cornish tributers working the Red Hill Mine, has just unearthed a gold nugget larger than any ever found at that time.
When was the Welcome Stranger nugget found?
Two Cornish miners found the huge nugget dubbed the Welcome Stranger while prospecting in the gold fields of Victoria, Australia on 5 February 1869 . It weighed 11 stone (72kg) and was 61cm long (24 inches) when it was found buried just below the surface.
How much is the Welcome nugget worth today?
Welcome Stranger Nugget
If still intact today, it’s estimated that the Welcome Stranger would be worth at least $3 million .
Does the Welcome Stranger still exist?
A replica of the “Welcome Stranger” is in the Old Treasury building, Treasury Place, Melbourne, Victoria; another replica is owned by descendants of John Deason and is now on display at the Dunolly Rural Transaction Center .
What’s the biggest gold nugget ever found in the world?
Holtermann ‘Nugget’: 10,229oz. While the Welcome Stranger is the largest gold nugget ever discovered, the single biggest gold specimen ever found is the Holtermann. Dug up in October 1872 by German miner Bernhardt Holtermann at Hill End in New South Wales, it was crushed, and the gold extracted.
What is the biggest gold nugget ever found in Alaska?
Barry Lloyd Clay (born November 1, 1955) is a gold miner from Palmer, Alaska. In 1998, Clay discovered the largest gold nugget ever found in Alaska on Swift Creek near Ruby. The nugget, nicknamed “The Alaska Centennial Nugget”, weighs 294.1 troy ounces .
What is the largest gold nugget ever found in the United States?
The Mojave Nugget is the largest known gold nugget ever found in California, United States. It was found in the Stringer district near Randsburg by prospector Ty Paulsen in 1977 using a metal detector. The nugget, which weighs 156 troy ounces (4.9 kg), is part of the Margie and Robert E.
Why does Alaska have gold?
Most gold mined in Alaska comes from the sands and gravels of streams and rivers . Sands and gravels that contain accumulations of gold or other minerals, such as platinum, diamond, ruby, and sapphire, are called placers. ... action of streams can create gold-rich sands and gravels called placers.
What was done with the Welcome Nugget?
The nugget, touted the ‘Wonder of the World’, was put on public display in Ballarat where it was used as a fundraising event for local charities . The nugget initially sold for just over £10,000 and was finally purchased by London’s Royal Mint where it was melted and turned into gold sovereigns.
How much is the world’s largest gold nugget worth?
Biggest gold nugget in history weighing 198 pounds, worth $2.6 million found in Australia. A mine in Australia has produced what its owner believes are two of the biggest gold specimens in recorded history.
Where was most gold found?
Located in South Africa , the Witwatersrand Basin represents the richest gold field ever discovered. It is estimated the 40% of all of the gold ever mined has come out of the Basin. In 1970, South Africa’s output accounted for 79% of the world’s gold production.
Where is the purest gold found?
Dahlonega has the purest gold in the world, which is 98.7 percent pure. This makes our gold over 23KT gold.
How much gold is left in the world?
The below-ground stock of gold reserves is currently estimated to be around 50,000 tonnes , according to the US Geological Survey. To put that in perspective, around 190,000 tonnes of gold has been mined in total, although estimates do vary. Based on these rough figures, there is about 20% still to be mined.
How much is a 17 pound gold nugget worth?
For three years, the glittery 17-pound oddity served as a doorstop at the Reed house. Conrad’s father, John, finally decided to take the stone to a Fayetteville jeweler in 1802 and learned that his son’s find was actually a giant gold nugget. In today’s dollars, the stone was worth more than $517,000 .
