Generally speaking, the purer and heavier the nugget, the more valuable it is. Older nuggets may also be more valuable due to their rarity. Ultimately, the value of a 1 oz gold nugget can vary greatly, but it is typically worth betweenR$1,000 andR$3,000.

A gold nugget, weighing 100 troy ounces, sold at auction in Sacremento forR$400,000 Wednesday night. "We valued it at aroundR$200,000," said Amy Baker, auction manager for Holabird-Kagin American. "There were 6 to 7 people bidding on it, most of them anonymously. It went to an anonymous (phone) bidder."