Aug 6, 2008 10:40 am US/Eastern
Teen Strikes Gold In Lake, Finds $6,000 Rock
Boy Snatches Rock Before It Can Be Carried Away By Current
COLFAX, Calif. (CBS) ―
A teenager made a fortunate find in a northern California lake, striking gold when he found a rock estimated to be worth more than $5,000.
Jake Hopkins, 14, usually finds plenty of quartz when he heads to Rollins Lake in Colfax, but he still can't believe what luck he had on a recent Saturday.
"I just saw one rock glaring in the river," he said. "It was just amazing to find."
The rock is the size of a goose egg and is mostly white quartz, but tests estimate about six ounces of gold inside, worth nearly $6,000.
"May start a little gold rush around the lake," said Jake's father, Mike Hopkins. The two often pan for gold in the lake, a family hobby for generations.
During his most recent trip, Jake was fishing in the middle of the lake when he saw something shiny. He acted fast, snatching the rock out of the water before the swift current could carry it away.
Jake hasn't decided when he's going to sell the rock, but plans on buying a trail motorcycle when he does.
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