274 REMARKABLE GOLD NUGGETS. 



taining about 10 lbs. of quartz, clay, and oxide of iron. Previous to finding 

 tbis great nugget tbe same party met with some smaller ones weighing 

 from 12 to 45 ozs. It was first sold in Ballaarat, in 1858, for 10,5007. 

 After being exhibited for many weeks in Melbourne it was sold there on 

 the 18th March, 1859 ; it then weighed 2,195 ozs., and fetched 9,3257., or 

 47. 4s. lid. per oz. Melted in London, Nov., 1859. Date of discovery, 

 11th June, 1858. Gross weight, troy, 2,217 ozs. 16 dwts. Assay : Gold 

 per cent. 99-20 ; Carats c. grs. 23-3J. 



2. — " The Blanche Barkly," found by a party of four, quite by itself, at 

 Kingower, Victoria, at a depth of 13 feet, and within 5 or 6 feet of holes 

 dug three years before. It measured 28 inches in length, and 10 inches in 

 its widest part, and apparently contained 2 lbs. of quartz, clay, and oxide of 

 iron. Melted in London, 4th August, 1858. Value, 6,9057. 12s. 9d. This 

 nugget, previous to melting, was exhibited in Melbourne, and at the Crystal 

 Palace, Sydenham, where it was an object of great interest, from its bulk 

 brightness, and solidity, the returns to the fortunate owners for some 

 time being 507. per week. Date of discovery, 27th August, 1857. Gross 

 weight, troy, 174 ozs. 13 dwts. Assay : Gold per cent. 95-58 ; Carats 

 c. grs. 22-3|. 



3. — Found at Canadian Gully, Ballaarat, Victoria, by a party of four, at 

 a depth of 60 feet, and immediately after, a smaller one, weighing 76 ozs. 

 Two of the party had not been longer in the colony than three months, 

 when they returned to England with their prize in the steamer " Sarah 

 Sands." This specimen, although large, was not very attractive, for both 

 the gold and the quartz were dark coloured. Melted in London in 1853 — 

 weight before melting, 1,615 ozs. 10 dwts. ; after, 1,319 ozs. 1 dwt. 12 grs. 

 of fine gold of 98-96 per cent, of pure gold, equal to 1,423 ozs. standard 

 gold, value at 37. 17s. 9d. per oz. 5,5327. 7s. 4d., the loss in weight in 

 melting being 296 ozs. 85 dwts = 18-6 per cent. Date of discovery, 3 1st 

 Jan., 18.53. Gross weight, troy, 1,619 ozs. 



4. — Found by a native boy amongst a heap of quartz, on the surface of 

 the ground at Meroo Creek, River Turon, 53 miles from Bathurst, N.S.W. 

 It was in three pieces when discovered, though generally considered as one 

 mass. The aboriginal who discovered these blocks observed a a speck of 

 some glittering substance upon the surface of a block of the quartz, upon 

 which he applied his tomahawk and broke off a portion." One of the 

 pieces weighed 70 lbs. avoirdupois, and gave 60 lbs. troy of gold ; the gross 

 weight of the other two about 60 lbs. each. These three pieces, weighing 

 If cwt., contained 106 lbs. troy of gold, and about 1 cwt. of quartz. In the 

 same year another nugget, No. 39, weighing 30 lbs. 6 ozs., was discovered 

 in clay, 24 yards from the large pieces ; and in the following year, also 

 near to No. 4, there were found two nuggets, weighing 157 ozs. and 71 ozs. 

 Date of discovery, July, 1851. Gross weight, troy, 1,272 ozs., weight of 

 crushed gold. 



5 and 6. — Found at Dunolly, Victoria, two specimens, with gold distri- 

 buted through a rust-coloured matrix. Melted in Melbourne, October, 1857, 



