Certified Natural Alaskan Gold Nuggets
Miners regularly come into the Alaska Mint to sell natural gold that they have found in different parts of Alaska and Northern Canada. We purchase their gold to make into jewelry or sell as specimen pieces to collectors around the world.
The nuggets are cleaned, mounted in our certificate of authenticity and marked with our special “X” on the map of where they were found. The color and texture of the natural gold nuggets will vary depending on the purity of the gold and mining area. Our certified nuggets start about $50 and up to several thousands dollars depending on the nugget size and the market price of gold. Natural nuggets sell for more than the market price of gold because of their rarity. We negotiate with the miners to get the best price possible.
When selecting nugget size, we have tried to photograph them to show how the size increases with price, the thickness of the nuggets will change the weight quite a bit.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, give us a call and we will find the perfect gold nugget for you. 1-907-278-8414
Gold Nugget Information:
Formation of Gold Nuggets: Geological processes deep within the Earth’s crust form gold nuggets. Miners typically find gold nuggets in quartz veins or other mineral deposits. Over time, weathering and erosion can break these deposits apart, releasing gold particles and nuggets into rivers and streams. Each piece is one of a kind with no two being exactly alike.
Where to Find Gold Nuggets: Regions with a history of gold mining, such as Alaska, California, Canada, and Australia, can produce gold nuggets. Wherever the effects of erosion took place. That would include rivers, streams, ancient dried up river channels and underground riverbeds. This type of gold is called placer gold.
Equipment and Tools: From gold pans and suction dredges that act like an underwater vacuum cleaner, to heavy equipment loading dirt and gravel into large trommels and sluice boxes, people search for gold. Additionally, metal detectors are particularly useful for locating gold nuggets hidden underground.
Identifying Gold Nuggets: Gold nuggets vary in size, shape, and purity. They can be tiny flakes or large, irregularly shaped pieces. Natural gold is bright yellow and heavy, gold nuggets are much heavier than other similarly sized rocks. They may also have quartz or other minerals attached, as gold often forms in association with other minerals. Natural Alaskan gold is typically 75% to 95% pure, or 18k to 22k.
