Nice bahog.
I hope is anti-Weiner and Waxman device is activated.
Posted on 09/17/2010 9:22:43 AM PDT by Palter
A bright yellow glimmer caught Charlie "Digger Chuck" Ward's eye as he panned. His eyes had fooled him in the past, so he reached in the pan to feel the weight of the clump. Ward handed it to his prospecting partner, Byron Janis, and asked "Is this what I think it is?"
The 2-¼ inch by 1-1/2 inch by 1 inch rock was exactly what Ward thought it was:
gold.
It turned out to be the largest undisputed gold nugget found in the Black Hills in the past 120 years. (A larger nugget has been found, but its authenticity has been called into question).
"We were really excited," Ward said. "We could hardly stay in our skin."
On Thursday, the public will have a chance to see the nugget up close during its unveiling at The Journey Museum in Rapid City.
Ward and his partner, who call themselves the "Ice Box Mining Company," sold the precious nugget for an undisclosed amount to Chris Johnson, owner of the Clock Shop in downtown Rapid City, which often buys gold from prospectors.
"We paid a generous amount for the nugget," Johnson said. Based on current gold prices, the "Ice Box nugget" intrinsically has about $5,000 worth of gold in it. But because of its rarity in the Hills, Johnson could only speculate what someone might pay for it.
"Its value as a specimen far exceeds the gold content in there," Johnson said.
A mixture of quartz and gold, the nugget weighs 5.27 troy ounces, but a gravity test at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology determined its specific gold content was 3.96 troy ounces, Johnson said.
Other nuggets of comparable and larger size were found during the Black Hills gold rush but did not remain in one piece, according to Johnson.
Ward and his partner decided to sell their rare find because, as prospectors, they prefer the hunt and making money to holding onto what they find.
"You either work for money, or you work for gold," Ward said. "It's more about the romance of prospecting and going out and finding than having everything around."
The prospectors would not reveal where they found it but said it is within 20 miles of Rapid City on a dry site Ward and Janis have worked at for about eight months. The two take their diggings from the dry site and then take it to a stream to separate any gold.
Johnson said the nugget isn't for sale, and he expects to keep it on display at The Journey Museum for about a month.
"For the time being, we're just enjoying having it," Johnson said.
Nice bahog.
I hope is anti-Weiner and Waxman device is activated.
An anti Waxweiner device is needed.
within 20 miles of Rapid City eh, well that narrows it down.
If it was me I would hang onto the gold.
Well of course it wasn’t found on indian land,, and they’ll swear to that. If it was in the forest or BLM land, they can file a mining claim. (but the democrats are currently trying to change the right to mine law in America)
my hubby likes to prospect and has found some nice nuggies too and when asked where he found it he says “ I don’t remember.” He keeps his and I have some nice jewelry pieces.
Some are in it for the sheer love of the hunt..others for what it will mean in $$ some day.
Ping.
If I had to guess, I'd say the site is about 25 miles outside of Rapid City. ;)
THUD
Yup.
I’m sure they want to give it to the pResident...he really likes bling!
—the big one that George Hearst missed-—
Apparently he didn’t miss many.
Related (but not the same) thread: "Gold Fever Strikes Mom and Pop Prospectors in US West"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2589903/posts
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Need this one for my collection!
I went to Alaska to pan for gold. Alas, I broke my leg on the way in Cheyenne and when in Fairbanks couldn’t stand the rigors of creek side panning.
I did get a good bet better and a few weeks later, tried my luck in Bonanza Creek in the fabled Dawson City Yukon Territory..... Came up with nothing though. I got my pan in the creek but couldn’t stand the strain for long.
It looks like 2012 will be another trip to the great north land and the opportunity to pan the creeks for a flash of color.
On my first Alaskan cruise my daughter and I went panning for gold in one of the ports of call....The guide was a young guy and quite funny...He said he took his kids with him from the time they were little. Then one day he found his son at the breakfast table swirling his cheerios like he was panning for gold....Also said he went every weekend and found enough to make it worth while....
Sure tis a purdy one. I’ve been looking for his momma for years. LOL
Anyone who is serious about panning can make a living doing it. The chances of getting rich are always there too.
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