Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 641
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page 641
342 Gold Mining in California
The Monster Lump of Gold in California the largest in the world
San Francisco November 1864
We chronicled yesterday the finding of an immense lump of quartz gold in Calaveras County weighing 161 pounds or 2576 ounces avoir dupois. Estimating it to contain 20 pounds of quartz rock, which is a large allowance in the opinion of experienced persons who examined it, the actual weight of the gold in it will be 141 pounds or 2256 ounces avoir dupois, the value of which, at 17 dollars 25 cents per ounce would be 38 (can't read) dollars - This is the largest nugget of pure gold ever found in California, or in the world. It was brought down to the city yesterday by Adams & Co and will be shipped to the Atlantic states in the steamer of today.
The prospectors of it were so excited by their good luck that they sat up beside their treasure night & day on it's way here. Mr Perkins one of the company to whom it belongs, states that it was taken out in Calaveras County, on Wednesday evening, November 22nd, just as the Company were about quitting work for the day : he would not give any particulars in regard to where the claim is located except that it is in the County above named.
The company consists of four Americans and one Swiss. Mr Perkins belongs to Lexington Kentucky and for the past two years, although he has laboured hard, was very unsuccessful, never having more than 200 dollars at any one time during that period.
The length of this immense mass is about fifteen inches, and it's width from five and one half to six inches. As one side is extremely irregular & uneven in its formation, it is different to arrive at the exact thickness, but it will probably average four inches.
The other side is almost flat and presents a solid mass of pure gold : the only quartz presentable is on the upper or ragged side and some pieces are so losely [loosely] imbedded in the precious metal that, with the aid of a pointed instrument, they might be easily removed
The whole mass at some period, has apparently been in a fused state
This monster nugget ought to be sent to the Paris Exhibition, as a specimen of California production. It would give all Europe a wonderful idea of the wealth of our states.
Discovery of Gold in California.
Gold was first discovered on the south bank of the American river at a place called Sutters Mill, now Coloma, late in May or early June 1848 - The number of miners at that time was consequently, limited to the population of the territory - some five hundred men from Oregon, Mexican & other Foreigners & the Indians who were employed by or sold their gold to the whites. It is supposed there were not far from 5000 men employed in collecting gold during that season, their average earnings was estimated to be 1000 dollars each and the aggregate to be five million of dollars. During the following winter people came into the territory from Chile, Peru, Mexico Australia and China