What actually makes a nugget valuable
Weight and purity set the floor. Everything above that floor comes from how the piece looks:
- Size. The premium climbs steeply with weight, because large natural pieces are exponentially rarer than small ones. A single 10-gram nugget is worth considerably more than ten 1-gram nuggets.
- Shape and character. Distinctive outlines, crystalline structure and interesting texture all add value. Smooth, featureless lumps command less.
- Quartz. Gold still attached to its host rock is often worth more than the gold alone, despite weighing more and containing less metal. Specimen buyers want the contrast.
- Provenance. A documented creek or district adds value, particularly for famous ground.
Which is why we quote standout pieces one at a time rather than off a rate table. Anything above roughly 5 grams, or with real character at any size, gets individually assessed.
What not to do before selling
Do not polish, tumble, or acid-clean a nugget. Natural surface is part of the product, and restoring it is impossible. Rinse off loose dirt, dry it, and leave it alone.