Nearly 8 kg of gold ore shaped like a map of China

A rare natural gold ore, shaped like a map of China and weighing nearly 8 kg, was discovered by a herder in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

Gold ore discovered in Xinjiang on January 30. Photo: China News Service

Mr. Berek Sawut in Thanh Ha district, Altay region, discovered the natural gold nugget on January 30, just below the ground surface. The nugget is about 23 cm long, 18 cm wide, 8 cm thick and weighs 7.85 kg. Notably, its shape resembles a natural map of China.

According to Xinhua, the gold ore has an 80 percent purity and is estimated to be worth about 1.6 million yuan (more than $225,000). Local expert Zhu Xinfeng said the price of natural gold, depending on its uniqueness, is often many times higher than standard gold.

CCTV News reported that many people are flocking to Berek Sawut's house to see the gold. However, if he hides or tries to sell the ore, he could face fines. According to China's mineral resources law, any minerals underground and above ground are state property. People are responsible for handing them over to the government.

Gold nuggets form naturally and are often found through mining. In 2010, a 1.84 kg nugget was discovered in the Altay region.

According to VNE