An amateur prospector who has been searching for gold with a metal detector for years in Australia has discovered a rare, large gold nugget during a search in the northwest of New South Wales. It was stated that the piece, discovered by a resident of the Broken Hill region who wished to remain anonymous, could fetch up to 200,000 dollars in the collector's market.
The discovery took place on private land called Mount Stuart near Tibooburra. The prospector, who had been searching the area for days, began digging after a signal from his metal detector while making one of his final attempts of the day in mid-October.
The prospector explained that the initial signal was not as strong as he expected, but the detector gave a more intense response as he dug deeper. Stating that the device began to beep "wildly" when he reached a depth of about 100 millimeters, the prospector said he saw a bright yellow spot in the soil.
THE VALUE OF THE NUGGET COULD REACH 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS
It was determined that the nugget, referred to as the "Tibooburra Potato" due to its potato-like appearance, weighs over 1,200 grams. Examinations revealed that approximately 940 grams of the quartz-containing piece consists of pure gold.
The market value of the nugget based solely on its gold content is calculated to be between 150,000 and 160,000 dollars. However, due to the rarity of natural gold pieces of this size, it is stated that the price among collectors could rise to 200,000 dollars, which is approximately 7 million TL.
Greg Spangler, who has been selling gold prospecting equipment in Broken Hill for about 20 years, said he has seen very few people find gold weighing over a kilogram. Pointing out that the discovery is extraordinary, Spangler noted that amateur prospectors usually find small pieces or nuggets weighing only a few ounces.
Gold prospecting activities in the region are known to date back to the late 1880s. While prospecting is not permitted in some areas around Tibooburra due to permit processes regarding indigenous land rights, it is possible to prospect for a fee on private lands such as Mount Stuart and Gumvale.
The recent rise in gold prices has also increased the number of people prospecting as a hobby. According to Spangler, the movement of soil following rainfall can allow pieces that were previously unnoticed to move closer to the surface. The prospector who found the nugget advised those interested in gold prospecting to dig wherever they get a signal.
News Source: 12punto
