What is the largest nugget ever found in CA?

ArizonaGoldFever · Apr 5, 2011

Anyone know what's the largest gold nugget ever found in California?

~J
http://arizona-gold-fever.blogspot.com/

Badger 5 · Apr 5, 2011

I saw a marker on Hy 70 close to Portola CA. it said in 1850 a 51lb nugget was found. I don't know if that's the biggest,But I would like to find one like that.

Badger 5

Tuberale · Apr 5, 2011

A "nugget" suggests, at least to me a mass that is mostly gold. But the largest mass of gold from CA was actually a "boulder": a combination of gold and quartz, found near Susanville, CA in the 1860's. Said to have weighed over 400 pounds as I recall (and I can't give a citation for this one). I remember it was found several feet deep, and was shaped like a dumbbell, with masses of gold on either end, and a long, thinner quartz bar between the masses. In trying to lift the boulder, the quartz bar broke, leaving two fairly large masses of gold no longer attached together.

Hoser John · Apr 6, 2011

Outta Jamestown on Niger Hill in the late 1800's, thats the name so don't shoot the messenger. John

patches63 · Apr 7, 2011

huge specimens aside,there was the 54 lb channel nug kicked up by willards pack animal while crossing the creek at magalia in the 1850 s i believe.he sold it for grubstake and spent every dime looking for more.according to records,he found little else in that area. :icon_scratch:

Tuberale · Apr 7, 2011

Need to point out there is a difference between "Niger", which is the scientific name for "thistle", and "Nigger", which the rest of your post suggests may be the actual site name, no longer politically correct.

"Niger" seeds are a favorite food of goldfinches, and what gardeners hate.

patches63 · Apr 7, 2011

do you enjoy semantics?or just correcting people.the topic is big nugs in ca.,so contribute,or troll elsewhere.peace. :icon_sunny:

edit,accidently posted this pic,can u see the western tanager nest center foreground,on tip of oak branch.hollow front door nest,standard,but they installed a piece of blue poly tarp on top,w. tanagers sorta like orioles,very colorfull.some are quite smart,as well.

Tuberale · Apr 18, 2011

Semantics is the study of the meanings of words. I did not suggest semantics, you did patches63.

And yes, my last job was as a proofreader for a major newspaper.

The problem is you don't understand semantics. Nor, apparently, the words being used.

English is a poor language for communicating with, at best. Using a malapropism instead of the correct word makes communication between Homo sapiens difficult.

Case in point: Have you never been bussed, or have you only been bused? Do you know the difference between these words? (semantics, but an important difference)

kuger · Apr 18, 2011

As said,there is a difference in Lump,and nugget.Many of the BIG finds of the gold rush were never recorded as it was a liability to have in a remote camp.I have read accounts of miners actually breaking huge specimens to make the split and to aid in concealment

The Carson Hill Lump was reputed as the largest,this account states 114 pounds but it was actually closer to 190 lbs

http://malakoff.com/goldcountry/carsonhi.htm

kuger · Apr 18, 2011

Tuberale said:
A "nugget" suggests, at least to me a mass that is mostly gold. But the largest mass of gold from CA was actually a "boulder": a combination of gold and quartz, found near Susanville, CA in the 1860's. Said to have weighed over 400 pounds as I recall (and I can't give a citation for this one). I remember it was found several feet deep, and was shaped like a dumbbell, with masses of gold on either end, and a long, thinner quartz bar between the masses. In trying to lift the boulder, the quartz bar broke, leaving two fairly large masses of gold no longer attached together.

Never heard that one before......thats not even a gold bearing area

kuger · Apr 18, 2011

again................................Carson Hill Lump(Nugget)
http://www.historichwy49.com/goldfact.html

Gravel Hog · Apr 18, 2011

Makes my 6oz. seem like a puny nothing, thanks alot Kuger.
But at the same time gives me some hope of the chance of finding a bigger nugget. :tongue3:

There are a few good books that cover this topic of large nuggets, some try to catalog the nuggets and masses, some are worldwide. Got them here somewhere.
Don't like to read stuff like that much rather be out looking for my next largest nugget. :laughing7:

bug · Apr 18, 2011

You want to read about big motherload gold? Then this be the book for you!

http://books.google.com/books?id=pm...&resnum=2&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

kuger · Apr 18, 2011

bug said:
You want to read about big motherload gold? Then this be the book for you!

http://books.google.com/books?id=pm...&resnum=2&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Have read ,the Southern Mines cover to cover several times....and I have two of its predecessors that arent in print anymore................Like I said,many went undocumented

goldseeker4000 · Apr 23, 2011

the largest nugget that ever came out of Montana was 16 lbs. from deadwood gulch. Another very large one came out of McClellan gulch. Not sure if I spelled it right. You will get shot going up in that gulch. The claim owner patrols every day on horseback and a rifle. Except for winter months.

ArizonaGoldFever · Apr 24, 2011

ok, I should have made my question a little more specific. What is the largest "documented" nugget ever found in CA, i.e. pictures or newspaper accounts of the find? For the sake of this discussion lets ignore masses of gold embedded in quartz veins that had to be broken apart. If you can't get it out in one piece then it doesn't count in my record book. Perhaps another good thread to start would be what is the largest mass of gold ever found...I'll save that for another day.

As far as undocumented finds go...my research department tells me it was a 450lb nugget found in Sasquatch Gulch. It was actually picked up by Bigfoot and no one has seen either one since. (sarcasm) :laughing9:

Thanks to everyone for the links provided. Looks like I have plenty more research to do!

Hoser John · Apr 24, 2011

For over 150 years it's been called Niger Hill-maps state Niger Hill-always has been---always will be and let the panties twist as history changes for noboby--John :read2:

kuger · Apr 24, 2011

Hoser John said:
For over 150 years it's been called Niger Hill-maps state Niger Hill-always has been---always will be and let the panties twist as history changes for noboby--John

The "hill",is still producing to his day John......some recent arrests were made last year.I knew it was there for years,just wasnt greedy as some were which they payed for in the end,but ruined it for everybody.....I am sure you have seen that happen a time or two?