Prospector Makes a Lucky Find

This guy had a pretty good day!

It's been a pretty good summer for recreational gold seekers at the Clark-Wiltz Mining operation near McGrath. The site has been open to hobbyist prospectors using metal detectors since 2002. This season's visitors have dug up a few nuggets worth writing home about, but Sterling resident Tom Cooper's July 1 find tops them all, according to the Redoubt Reporter.

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The 10.64-ounce nugget, almost pure gold, was indeed worth screaming about. Its value is estimated at $25,000 to $30,000, says the Reporter. But Cooper is planning to save the nugget and "let my kids fight over it when I die." Read more.