Abstract
Gold nuggets have long captured the imagination (and avarice) of geologists, prospectors and the public alike. Unsurprisingly, descriptions of their geological occurrence are rare, but there have also been very few scientific studies describing their internal characteristics and composition. There has been continued speculation about whether they are supergene or hypogene in origin. Supporting a supergene origin, most gold nuggets in Australia have been found at or near the soil surface. Smaller nuggets, in particular, may be intimately associated with, and even appear to enclose, soil materials and weathered rock. Even large nuggets (e.g., >2 kg) have surface features and/or gross morphologies that suggest chemical reworking in the regolith. Conversely, others have been found deeper within the regolith, at the weathering front and large masses of gold have been found at considerable depth, in completely unweathered, primary environments.
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