Gold nuggets are a crafting material in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They are very rare items obtained by hitting rocks with a shovel or axe. They are used in the crafting of golden tools and certain furniture items. They can also be sold for 10,000 Bells.
In New Leaf, gold nuggets are an ore used to customize furniture. A total of 154 is required to craft every DIY.
Obtaining
Though likely available from the start, gold nuggets are much harder to obtain than iron nuggets. There is a small chance for gold nuggets to drop when hitting rocks with a shovel or axe, or when popping a balloon. Initially, only the rocks on the main part of the island will be available. Once the vaulting pole and ladder are obtained, more rocks become available.
On the second day, the airport becomes available. By purchasing a Nook Miles Ticket at the Nook Stop, players can visit deserted islands. Each island will have around 4-5 rocks, providing additional opportunities to obtain gold nuggets.
Uses
Gold nuggets are used in the following DIY Recipes.
| Tool | Icon | Recipe | How to Unlock Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden axe |   |
1x  axe1x  gold nugget
|
Break 100 axes. Any axe counts. Once complete, the golden axe DIY Recipe is learned by the player. |
| Golden shovel |   |
1x  shovel1x gold nugget
|
Help Gulliver 30 times. |
| Golden net |   |
1x  net1x gold nugget
|
Complete the Bug portion of the Critterpedia by catching each bug once. |
| Golden fishing rod |   |
1x  fishing rod1x gold nugget
|
Complete the Fish portion of the Critterpedia by catching each fish once. |
| Golden slingshot |   |
1x  slingshot1x gold nugget
|
Shoot balloons 300 times. |
| Golden watering can |   |
1x  watering can1x gold nugget
|
Upgrade Resident Services and get a 5-star island/town rating. Rating is given by asking Isabelle to evaluate the island. |
| Trophy case |  |
24x  wood3x gold nugget6x  iron nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| Golden dung beetle |   |
3x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| Robot hero |  |
1x rocket 1x gold armor 30x  rusted part90x iron nugget10x gold nugget
|
Nook Stop (5,000 Nook Miles) |
| Gold Armor | 8x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle | |
| Golden Toilet |  |
6x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| Golden arowana model |  |
3x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| Gold-Screen Wall |  |
8x gold nugget 1x  Screen-Wall
|
Message in a bottle |
| Aquarius urn |  |
3x  star fragment2x  Aquarius fragment2x gold nugget5x  stone
|
Celeste |
| Pisces lamp |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Pisces fragment2x gold nugget4x stone
|
Celeste |
| Aries rocking chair |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Aries fragment1x gold nugget5x stone
|
Celeste |
| Taurus Bathtub |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Taurus fragment1x gold nugget8x stone
|
Celeste |
| Gemini closet |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Gemini fragment2x gold nugget6x stone
|
Celeste |
| Cancer table |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Cancer fragment2x gold nugget3x stone
|
Celeste |
| Leo sculpture |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Leo fragment2x gold nugget3x stone
|
Celeste |
| Virgo harp |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Virgo fragment2x gold nugget4x stone
|
Celeste |
| Libra scale |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Libra fragment2x gold nugget
|
Celeste |
| Scorpio lamp |  |
3x star fragment 2x Scorpio fragment 2x gold nugget5x stone
|
Celeste |
| Sagittarius arrow |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Sagittarius fragment2x gold nugget
|
Celeste |
| Capricorn ornament |  |
3x star fragment 2x  Capricornus fragment2x gold nugget12x stone
|
Celeste |
| Golden gears |  |
1x gold nugget 3x iron nugget
|
Gift from balloons |
| Gold bars |  |
3x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| Golden flooring |  |
4x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| Golden candlestick |  |
2x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| Golden dishes |  |
1x gold nugget
|
Message in a bottle |
| King Tut Mask | 5x gold nugget
|
Possible upon obtaining gold nugget
|
