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A gold nugget - claimed to be one of the biggest ever found in
Britain - has been discovered in a Scottish river.
The gold, dubbed the Douglas Nugget, weighs 85.7g, and has been
estimated to be worth more than £50,000.
It was discovered in 2016 ago but remained secret for two years.
The man who found it wishes to remain anonymous and the exact location
of the river where the nugget was situated is also being kept under
wraps.
In 2019, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the British Gold Rush
near Helmsdale where my Great Great Grandfather Donald Campbell of
Lybster was photographed sitting on a grassy slope in the “City of Gold”
– Baile ‘n Oir.
Gold rushes in Scotland have not always been successful, though. One
gold rush was cringingly embarrassing. In 1852, when thousands of
poorly-paid workers down-tooled and went to the hills above Kinneswood,
Perth and Kinross, in search of riches on the basis of the rumour that
gold nuggets the size of your fist had been found. What they ended up
with were sacks full of the virtually worthless mineral pyrite (known
locally as ‘Fairy Balls’). This gold rush did not last long but became
known as the Fools’ Gold Rush. The mineral pyrite also became known as
fool’s gold.
Note:
• In 2019, a gold hunter discovered the UK's largest gold nugget
in two pieces in a Scottish river. The lump of pure gold, which weighs
121.3g (4.2 oz), was unearthed in a mystery location in May this year.
The two pieces form a doughnut shape and could be worth £80,000. The
previous largest find, in 2016, was the 85.7g (3oz) Douglas Nugget.
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