The
piece
of
gold
, tipping the scales at just over five kilograms (177 ounces), was unearthed by a nearby prospector on Wednesday morning. They quickly brought it to the Ballarat
Mining
Exchange
Gold
Shop.
The precise location and the lucky prospector’s identity remain confidential, but Cordell Kent, who owns a gold shop, mentioned that the nugget was discovered within a 30-kilometer radius of Ballarat’s central business district. Found approximately 60 centimeters underground, the prospector utilized a sophisticated detector valued at over $6000, specifically the Minelab GPX-5000.
If the nugget were to be sold at its market value, it would fetch nearly $300,000. However, due to its exceptional rarity, its true worth would exceed that amount, as stated by Mr. Kent. He noted, “If someone were to foolishly melt it down, it would be valued at just under $300,000 on the market. But as a nugget of this size and shape, its value is significantly higher than that.”
Mr. Kent added, “I cannot recall a nugget of this magnitude ever being discovered in this area before.”
According to Mr. Kent, the prospector had previously discovered some small bits of gold, but none of them had a value exceeding $1000.
“Yesterday, he found the tiniest nugget he had ever come across, barely a quarter of an ounce,” he mentioned. “Discoveries like this inspire others. I’ve been searching for over twenty years now, hoping to stumble upon something similar. With the current gold rush, there is so much hope for the future. It’s truly incredible.”
The nugget is likely to be sold to either a collector or potentially find its way into a museum.
Mr. Kent expressed his desire to sell the item locally in Australia because of its size, which would require special permission for export. He also anticipated a new gold rush in the Ballarat area, believing that many people would be excited about the goldfields once again. According to Mr. Kent, digging up money is not only enjoyable but also brings hope to people.
Big thanks to Cordell Kent for allowing us to feature his image in our stories about gold prospecting. We’re grateful to Cordell Kent and ‘The Mining Exchange Gold Shop, Ballarat, Australia’ for sharing this exciting event with us. Even though the discovery of this gold nugget was ten years ago, we still admire and respect both Cordell Kent and the store. Thanks again!
