California man finds 18-ounce gold nugget

FRESNO, Calif., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A California man struck gold, pulling a large 18-ounce gold nugget out of a local creek.

According to KFSN, the T-bone-steak-shaped chunk of gold was pulled out of a creek near Jamestown, east of Stockton. It could be worth an estimated $70,000.

Oscar Espinoza discovered the nugget while searching in the heart of California Gold Country and quickly told his friend, Jamestown Hotel owner Charlie Morgan, of the astounding discovery.

"Oh my God," Morgan told CBS San Francisco. "I thought, 'That's a lucky guy!'"

While he wouldn't say exactly where he found it, Espinoza said the nugget was discovered at Gold Prospecting Adventures mining camp, which could drive up its price.

"It's more valuable this way because it's a piece of history and his meltdown is just another piece of gold," Gold Prospecting Adventures owner Bryant Shock said.

Espinoza has asked Morgan to keep the nugget in a safe until he is able to find a buyer.