The world’s largest gold specimen was known as “The Beyers and Holtermann Nugget”. It was found in Australia during 1872. Despite its name, this was not actually a “nugget” as it was not one single piece of gold. However, it was still by far the largest mass of gold ever found. I say “was” because despite the expressed wishes of Bernard Holtermann, one of its discoverers, and even after his offer to buy the specimen for above market value, for some inexplicable reason the Star of Hope Mining Company refused to sell and it was crushed and smelted.
The original total specimen was 59 inches long and weighed an amazing 5,000 troy ounces, which is an incredible 630 pounds. The Holtermann nugget was believed to have contained approximately 3,000 troy ounces of gold imbedded in the surrounding quartz and slate.
Despite not being an official “nugget”, there has never been any mass of gold successfully recovered that was close to the size of Holtermann’s incredible find.
The Gold Discovery of a Lifetime
In 1858 the German-born Bernard Holtermann emigrated to Australia, ostensibly to avoid military service. After years of struggle, Holtermann along with his friend and partner Louis Beyers became wealthy after striking a rich vein of gold in the Star Hope Mine they had set up in New South Wales, Australia. In October, 1872 they would add fame to their wealth when an incredibly large mass of gold was found in the mine.
Under Holtermann’s supervision, it was carefully brought to the surface. All of this care would ultimately come to nought as, over Holtermann’s vociferous objections, the giant specimen was crushed so its gold could be removed and smelted.
All that remains of this incredible discovery are photographs taken before it was crushed. In addition to its photos, a chunk of the gold-veined quartz rock which was chipped off of Holtermann’s historic find along with day books from the mine can be seen at the History Hill gold rush museum in Hill End, Australia.
Although Holtermann was heartbroken by the destruction of his incredible find, it still helped make him a rich man, as he was a minority owner in the Star of Hope Mining Company. Holtermann retired with his profits and built a huge mansion just outside of Sydney, Australia. Although the rock itself was gone, he placed a stained-glass window in the mansion which contained an image of himself with his nugget.
Holtermann would go on to become a politician and successful businessman, but he will always be best remembered for the recovery of his famous so-called nugget.
The Star of Hope Mine produced many large chunks of gold during the years of its operation. Much of the gold was in “specimen” form, containing quartz matrix and coarse shapes.
Other Huge Gold Nuggets
Australia is truly the land of big gold nuggets! While the Holtermann nugget was actually considered a “specimen,” pretty much all of the largest gold nuggets ever found on Earth have come from the Land Down Under. Just a few of these include the Welcome Stranger Nugget, The Golden Eagle Nugget, and the Ausrox Nugget. These were all solid nugget that qualify as some of the biggest chunks of gold ever found.
Next: The World’s Largest Gold Nugget Discoveries