Geologists have discovered gold in a gravel pit near the town of Rødekro in southern Jutland. According to videnskab.dk, the discovery of the precious metal has been confirmed by geologist and senior scientist Christian Knudsen from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS),

“When the owner of the gravel pit told me that there was gold near Rødekro, I was a little sceptical,” Knudsen told videnskab.dk. “Other minerals are quite often confused with gold, but this time it turned out to be true; there is actually gold in southern Jutland.”

Knudsen said the gold was most likely deposited in Denmark by glaciers during the last Ice Age.

No reason to start digging
However, Knudsen warned that nobody should sell all their worldly possessions and invest in mining gear just yet, as there are no impending retirements following the Jutland strike. Knudsen has found more than 1,000 gold nuggets in Rødekro sized between one half and one-tenth of a millimetre.

“Even though no-one will get rich, it is fun that naturally deposited gold has been found in Denmark,” he said.

Knudsen said that glaciers sliding over the Scandinavian mountains scraped up the gold and brought it further south, so there might well be more gold in other places around the country.

“If the conditions for finding gold are there in Rødekro, there is nothing that says it won’t be in other places around the country.”

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The geologist attempted to throw water on anyone getting gold fever.

“Before anyone attacks all of the gravel pits in Denmark, remember that they are mostly privately-owned, they can be dangerous and any gold there is most likely in very small amounts. Without knowing where to look and having the right gear, it would be a waste of time.”