A lucky Australian treasure hunter hit the jackpot after his metal detector accurately signaled the discovery of a massive 87-ounce gold nugget. Remarkably, this valuable find was concealed just a mere six inches beneath the earth’s surface, in close proximity to the renowned gold-rich town of Wedderburn in Central Victoria.
Mick Brown, a laid-back 42-year-old from Kerang, Australia, is convinced that his treasured discovery, known as the “Fair Dinkum” nugget, holds a precious metal value of approximately $102,000. However, he firmly believes that the true worth of his prized nugget will easily surpass this estimate and double in value if it falls into the hands of the perfect collector.
“Every now and then, you hear people mention, ‘A beautifully formed gold nugget can be worth twice as much as its actual weight in gold,'” he disclosed to The Age.
Brown is feeling optimistic about the value of his nugget. He confidently states, “This nugget possesses impressive ridges and fluidity.” Back in October, a remarkable discovery took place in the renowned Gold Rush Country of Northern California. A metal detector led to the unearthing of a massive 97-ounce gold nugget. Surprisingly, this extraordinary find was sold to an undisclosed purchaser for an astonishing $400,000. As is customary in the world of gold prospecting, names are given to these exceptional discoveries, and Brown is no different. He has decided to christen his nugget as “Fair Dinkum,” a charming Australian phrase that signifies authenticity and genuineness.
Brown shared with The Age that individuals express their astonishment by exclaiming, “Genuinely, this is enormous,” when they experience the sheer weight of it. This fortunate Australian owes a debt of gratitude to his wife for motivating him to venture outdoors on the very day he stumbled upon the sizable nugget. As Brown narrated in The Age, his irritability was heightened due to his recent decision to quit smoking, lasting a couple of weeks. His wife wisely advised him to step outside and indulge in some fresh air. Following her suggestion, he embarked on a journey of 64 miles towards Wedderburn, a location he had previously explored for potential findings.
Brown shared his experience of using a metal detector to detect a massive gold nugget buried in the earth. He expressed his astonishment, exclaiming, “I couldn’t believe my ears! The alert signal from the device was absolutely mind-blowing.”
With just a little digging, he managed to grasp the horn-shaped projections of the “Fair Dinkum” nugget and extract it from the earth. Initially, he mistook it for a massive chunk of copper, but upon realization, he celebrated by cracking open a beer.
To prevent a gold rush, Brown decided not to disclose the exact location of his discovery. However, he had no reservations about displaying the impressive “Fair Dinkum” nugget. He jokingly questioned, “Am I supposed to say, ‘Yeah, I found a nugget, but you can’t see it?'” He believed it was fantastic to showcase it, as it pumped everyone up.
Brown shared his plans to use the proceeds from the nugget’s sale to buy a luxurious spa for his wife and four daughters.
Despite the significant payout, he remained driven to uncover an even larger nugget in the future. He mentioned that there were colossal 10-kilogram specimens waiting to be found.
Although the “Fair Dinkum” nugget held considerable size, it paled in comparison to the largest nugget ever discovered in the Australian outback. In 1981, the monstrous 256-ounce “Pride of Australia” was dug up in the vicinity of Mosquito Gully, just north of Wedderburn.
