In the summer of 1797, near modern Miass, geologists led by Yevgraf Mechnikov made an astonishing discovery: they found gold deposits. Soon, gold mines appeared in the area, and rumors of rich mines spread throughout the Ural region. In search of fortune, dozens of people flocked there, hoping to get rich quickly. Some were lucky, while others returned empty-handed. However, the most significant discovery was made by a serf named Nikifor Syutkin.

On October 26, 1842, he went to the already depleted and repeatedly dug Tsarevo-Alexandrovsky mine. The site had become so impoverished that the gold washing machine had already been dismantled. But this did not stop Nikifor, and he continued to dig all day until his shovel struck something hard. Syutkin began to clear the earth and was astonished to discover a huge piece of gold. As a diligent worker, he immediately reported the find to Staff Captain Shuman.

The ingot was soon sent to Yekaterinburg and then to St. Petersburg. It weighed nearly 36 kilograms and was valued at 28,146 gold rubles, a huge sum for that time. The capital discussed this find for a long time, with some even doubting its authenticity, but scientists confirmed that the metal was genuine. Due to its unusual shape, the nugget was named the 'Big Triangle.'

The authorities considered rewarding Syutkin. However, they did not give him the entire sum at once but paid it in installments. For a serf, this was a significant blow. Due to the slow and small transfers of money, he could not immediately buy his freedom. Syutkin became deeply distressed and began to drink heavily, ultimately transforming from a promising wealthy man into a chronic alcoholic. He ended his days in complete poverty. His nugget is now kept on display at the Diamond Fund exhibition in Moscow.