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Orocal The Natural Gold Company
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Natural Gold Nuggets

Gold is formed in quartz deposits in the earth. When erosion takes place exposed veins of gold break off and wash into rivers and streams. The natural movement of the water tumbles the gold against sand and rocks forming the Natural Gold Nugget . This gives each nugget its texture, shape and character. Natural gold is found by miners and left in its natural form, unaltered by man. The sand and rocks dull the nuggets and a slight cleaning is desired to bring out the brilliant color of gold which averages 22kt (90%) pure. This compares with 10kt (41%) or 14kt (58.5%) gold. Natural Gold Nuggets of fine quality are unique. The gold purity will vary from river and streams. Gold Nuggets can be found from 70% to as high as 95% pure depending on the mix of other minerals with the gold. This high purity accounts for the rich luster and color of natural gold. Nuggets are weighed by the troy ounce, 20 pennyweight (dwt) equaling one ounce of gold. They are sold at a premium price based on their rarity, shape, and size. Higher gold content and character have more value. This is similar to the grading of a fine quality diamond. The larger the Gold Nugget the more rare it is. A one-ounce nugget is now considered as rare as a five-carat diamond.

Questions & Answer about Natural Gold Nuggets

• What is a Natural Gold Nugget?
It is a piece of gold that broke out of quartz deposits with in the earth when erosion took place. It also goes by the name Placer Gold and each piece is a one of a kind with no two being exactly alike.

• Where can they be found?
Wherever the effects of erosion took place. That would include rivers, streams, ancient dried up river channels and underground riverbeds.

• How pure are they?
Gold nuggets range from 65 to 95 fine 16-23KT gold and can have other mineral content such as silver and copper mixed in with it.

• What sizes do they come in?
Gold Nuggets come in micro sizes from 1Millimeter up to 6 and is often referred to as flakes. Bigger flakes are called nuggets and have been found as large as 2500 ounces though almost all nuggets bigger than 300 ounces were melted.

• How Are Natural Gold Nuggets found?
They can be found in rivers and streams using a gold pan or suction dredges that act like an underground vacuum cleaner. Larger operation use large machinery that dig up large sections of dirt and run them through machines that separate the gold from the dirt. They are also found using a metal detectors.

• How are they weighed?
They are weighed by the troy ounces. 12 ounces = one pound which differs from weight which is 16 ounces to the pound. The troy ounces are broke up into 20-penny weight to the ounces and use the symbol DWT or by the grams which has 31.1 to the ounces. The larger the nugget the more rare they are. A one-ounce nugget is now considered as rare as a five-carat diamond. (How many of those do you own?)

• Why are some real bright and others dull?
Because it was formed underground in quartz deposit you often find quartz mixed in with it. When they broke off into the rivers and streams they tumbled against the sand and gravel, which gave the nuggets, it’s texture but dulled it. They can be cleaned in different solutions, then tumble in different media to give it the shine.

• Are they expensive?
Like precious gemstone the prices is often determined by supply. The Genuine Natural Gold nugget is extremely rare. Every year fewer and fewer miners go into operation due to the high cost of equipment, expenses to operate and government environmental regulations that have closed mining in most areas. Some pieces of machinery can cost up to a half a million dollars to purchase and over $250,000 yearly to operate. Because of whether conditions the mining season is limited so they are not able to find very many nuggets.

• How does a miner determine the prices they charge?
Like we said they have to charge a premium to stay in business. Miners consider their Natural Nuggets to be precious gemstone and charge based on the size, shape and beauty of their gold. If they were not able to get the premium prices for larger nugget they would have to close up operation and then nuggets would become even more rare. Have you ever heard the expression "The man with the gold makes the rules!"

• Is there a lot of Gold Nuggets left to be found?
Only God really knows that answer, all we can tell you at the rate gold miner go under, quit the business or close because of the government they’re getting harder to purchase. The lower the Gold Market the fewer gold miner, which means fewer nuggets.

• If they are so rare how can some stores give them away?
The bigger they are the more rare they become. Also not all Gold nuggets are Natural, some people man make them, often using only cheap metals that are gold plated. Make sure to ask if they are genuine natural gold nuggets and come with a certificate of authenticity.

• Should I purchase a Natural Gold Nugget?
If you like one of a kind pieces that average 22KT gold in purity than go for it. Chances are you will never see that one again.