The Carnon Stream produced Britain's largest alluvial gold nugget — 59 grams of water-worn gold recovered during tin streaming operations. Cornwall's mineral heritage extends beyond tin.
Alluvial nuggets and fine gold in stream gravels. The 59g Carnon nugget is the largest placer gold ever found in Britain.
Gold eroded from quartz veins in the surrounding granite and concentrated in stream gravels alongside tin ore.
Cornwall's tin industry dates to the Bronze Age. Gold was often found by "streamers" processing alluvial tin deposits.
In the 19th century, tin streamers working the Carnon Valley near Perranporth discovered Britain's largest documented placer gold nugget — 59 grams of water-worn gold. While Cornwall was never a major gold producer, this find proved that gold exists in recoverable quantities in the region's alluvial gravels.
Yes! Cornwall has produced alluvial gold from stream gravels, particularly in the Carnon Valley near Perranporth. The Carnon Stream yielded Britain's largest recorded placer nugget at 59 grams. Gold was a byproduct of tin streaming operations.
Recreational panning may be possible with landowner permission. Much of the historic gold-bearing area is privately owned. The Carnon Stream is managed by the Environment Agency and requires permission for any mineral extraction.
Stream tin mining involved sluicing alluvial deposits to extract tin ore (cassiterite). Gold was often found as a byproduct in the concentrates. Cornwall was famous for tin from Bronze Age times through the 20th century.
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Land access rights, safety conditions, and public fossicking zones change. You are solely responsible for verifying regulations with local authorities (DOC/Council/BLM) and assessing river safety before visiting. Paystreak.io accepts no liability for injury, fines, or trespassing. Never dig on private land without explicit permission.
✓ Information last verified: January 2026