I was reading an article today on the 30 biggest Nuggets ever found.
Not surprised to see a majority were found in Victoria.
Just wondering how many of us still think there might be any more out there.
Not deep underground but within 500mm of surface.
Went to my nugget book and inserting the 875 oz Hand of Faith* at no 17 on that list, the 30th largest nugget found in Victoria becomes a tiddler of 645 oz found at Heathcote in 1855.
Are there any more of this size left to be found 500mm from the surface?
A nugget of 645 oz would be approximately three quarters the size of the Hand of Faith size and at 500mm should sound off loudly to "come and dig me".
Given that the goldfields have been thrashed relentlessly over the last 35 to 40 years my answer would be very unlikely.
Are there any of that size still to be found by detectors at greater depths?
How deep does a detector go on a 645 oz nugget is the question. Never having had a 645 oz nugget to test on, I am only guessing about 3 to 4 feet.
Only 3 or 4 of the 30 largest nuggets were recorded as being found at depths between the surface and 500mm with just two more slightly deeper to the assumed detecting range limit of around 3 to 4 feet. So again I would have to say very unlikely.
Are there still monsters to be found at even greater depths beyond detector range?
If we divide the 30 largest nuggets into categories, 6 would be counted as shallow and 24 deep. The Hand of Faith was one of the shallow ones yet remained undiscovered for a long time until the advent of metal detectors. If we apply that ratio of one in 6 to the remaining 24 deep nuggets that suggests that there are at least 4 monsters still to be found at greater depths. The actual number is likely to be greater as even in the old days recovery of deep nuggets was much more difficult than shallow ones.
* I am still angry at the stupidity of the Victorian government not purchasing the Hand of Faith nugget when it was found. A priceless piece of natural history and heritage lost. If we ever do find another, I just hope we do not repeat that stupidity.
