Welcome to Copper Gulch Prospecting™
My name is Steve Wagy and I search for native metal in the Central Colorado volcanic field with a metal detector.
The Rarest Eluvial Placer Deposit Was Discovered
Genuine Colorado native Aluminum, Brass, Copper Alloy, Iron and Zinc nuggets have been found and are for sale.
Huge selection of the rarest minerals on Earth!
This is the rarest collection of genuine native aluminum nuggets ever found. There are aluminum nuggets ranging from 0.1 gram to 818.2 grams. The largest specimen Aluminum Nugget ID 31 is certified by XRF and is the Unofficial World Record Largest Native Aluminum Nugget Found.
Shop for Genuine Colorado Native Aluminum Nuggets
Genuine native brass nuggets. Incredibly rare specimens. The largest specimen is 2.6 grams and is the Unofficial World Record Largest Native Brass Nugget Found.
Shop for Genuine Colorado Native Brass Nuggets
Previously unkown native copper alloy nuggets have been found. Check out the XRF analysis on Copper Alloy Nugget ID 22. Wild stuff.
Shop for Genuine Colorado Native Copper Alloy Nuggets
Before now, the only natural iron specimens found were Telluric iron. This is the world's first and only genuine native iron nugget ever to be found. It is embedded and preserved in volcanic glass, then exposed by natural cracking of the glass. It is magnetic. That is the Unofficial World Record Only Native Iron Nugget Found.
Shop for Genuine Colorado Native Iron Nuggets
This is the rarest collection of genuine native zinc nuggets ever found (have they ever been found?). The largest specimen Zinc Nugget ID 6 is 60.2 grams and is the Unofficial World Record Largest Native Zinc Nugget Found.
Shop for Genuine Colorado Native Zinc Nuggets
- Analysis
- Purchasing
- Return Policy
- Shipping
Analysis
X-Ray fluoroscopy (XRF) is performed by Prestige Minerals & Gems, Boulder, CO on selected specimens to ensure their composition. This is an ongoing process. 31 out of 163 native metal nuggets have been analyzed by XRF as of July 17, 2025. All native metal nuggets will eventually be analyzed by XRF due to the extreme rarity of the find. A copy of the XRF result is provided with all specimens that have been analyzed by XRF. View the Details for each specimen and use the Additional Information tab to locate and download the .pdf file.
If you want an XRF analysis performed on a specimen that doesn't have one, please view the Details for each specimen and use the Inquiry tab to send me an email. An XRF analysis costs $140 per specimen. A certified XRF analysis costs $300 per specimen. These prices are for the analysis and transportation to and from the lab. I will pay for these charges for specimens priced greater than $20,000.
All specimens come with printed high resolution images and a signed Certificate of Authenticity stating they were prospected by myself in the state of Colorado and are genuine native metal nuggets.
Specimen Weights:
All weights are taken using a calibrated, laboratory grade digital analytical scale, accurate to 0.01 g. The weights I record are rounded to one decimal place (e.g. 0.16 g will round up to 0.2 g, 0.15 g will round down to 0.1 g)
Specimen VDI's:
All VDI's are taken using a Minelab Equinox 900 metal detector after the native metal nuggets have been cleaned and ready for sale.
Specimen Mineral Type:
These native metal nuggets are prospected from a one-of-a-kind aluminum, zinc, copper and brass eluvial placer deposit. No gold, silver or platinum has been found in this deposit, although a lot of exotic metals have been found in these nuggets. I can't guarantee the primary metal the nugget represents until it has been analyzed by XRF, however, I have categorized most of the nuggets by their physical and chemical properties:
- Most of the aluminum nuggets are smoother, brighter and shinier than the zinc nuggets.
- The zinc nuggets are more dense and darker than the aluminum nuggets and have a blue tint.
- Most of the zinc nuggets have a nodular appearance on the surface.
- Nuggets that are a mixture of aluminum and zinc are darker than the aluminum nuggets that have little or no zinc in them.
- Nuggets with a high percentage of aluminum with little or no zinc have a low reactivity to phosphoric acid.
- Nuggets with a high percentage of zinc have a high reactivity to phosphoric acid.
Download Original XRF Batch Analyses:
XRF-1-20.pdf
XRF-21-30.pdf
XRF-06-16-25.pdf
XRF-07-10-25.pdf
Specimen Images:
The exact color and brightness of your native metal nugget may not precisely match the images on this website. The light has to be just right to capture the appearance of the nugget perfectly. Glare and reflections are common. The digital microscope can sometimes produce a bluer or pinker image than in real life. I have attempted to use images that capture the natural appearance of the nugget. The nuggets actually look much brighter when viewed with the naked eye.
Specimen Dimensions:
All units are in mm and are approximate. The complex shape of the nuggets makes it difficult to get precise measurements.
Purchasing
Specimens that are priced less than or equal to $20,000 are listed on our Shopify store. Please view all of the data for each specimen before making your purchase!
Specimens that are priced greater than $20,000 are available for purchase with a bank draft or bank wire.
All specimens are located in a safe deposit box and if desired, can be purchased directly from myself at my bank. SAFE AND SECURE.
If you are a rare mineral and precious metal broker and you think you would like to broker some of these unique specimens please view the Details for each specimen and use the Inquiry tab to send me an email.
Return Policy
I'm sorry, there are NO RETURNS. These specimens are too rare and delicate. ALL SALES ARE FINAL!
Shipping
All orders can be shipped but orders greater than $20,000 (before shipping charge and state sales tax) will require insurance.
All specimens are placed in a jewelry bag (or a small piece of a jewelry bag) inside a 4 mil waterproof plastic bag. Your shipment will contain the specimen, high resolution images, Certificate of Authenticity, the XRF result (if the specimen has been analyzed by XRF) and the receipt.
