In the southern region of Australia, treasure hunters have unearthed two massive nuggets valued at $350,000 AUD ($250,000 USD) in the historic goldfields.
The two nuggets together weigh a total of 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) and were discovered on the same day in Victoria’s Tarnagulla area. This exciting find was featured on a recent episode of “Aussie Gold Hunters” on the Discovery Channel.
According to CNN, a pair of prospectors, Brent Shannon and his brother-in-law Ethan West, discovered valuable nuggets worth $350,000 in just a few hours. With the assistance of West’s father, Paul West, they were able to find these precious stones. The nuggets may even be sold for a higher price than their estimated value, potentially earning up to 30% more if sold to a collector.
With the help of Ethan West’s father, Paul, brothers-in-law Brent Shannon and Ethan West unearthed the nuggets in the vicinity of the historical gold mining town of Tarnagulla. This town was once home to the world’s deepest mine at 4,613 feet. The family had a feeling that there were still treasures to be found in this area, so they patiently waited for months to obtain the necessary mining permit.
Two prospectors, Brent Shannon and his brother-in-law Ethan West, made a remarkable discovery of gold nuggets within hours, assisted by West’s father, Paul West. Shannon, appearing on Australian breakfast chat show Sunrise, shared their excitement of finding the nuggets in untouched land. After waiting for months to receive a permit for gold mining in the area, the duo finally struck gold. West recounted collecting thousands of small pieces of gold over four years, but described this find as one of the most significant yet, with the pair uncovering two large chunks in a single day. Referred to as the Poseidon Crew, the team uses an excavator to dig up dirt and then relies on a metal detector to locate gold. This discovery brings to mind a similar incident from January 2013, when an amateur explorer found a 5.5-kilogram golden nugget buried 60 centimeters underground outside Ballarat, valued at a minimum of $300,000 by experts.
The Poseidon Crew, a team of enthusiasts, utilize an excavator to unearth soil and then rely on a metal detector to help locate any hidden treasures, particularly gold. According to Cordell Kent, who owns The Mining Exchange Gold Shop, the region has yielded gold since 1851, with modern technology playing a crucial role in aiding prospectors. Kent noted that unlike in the past when miners could only rely on sight or touch to find gold, detectors now allow them to detect the presence of gold through sound.
CNN and 9news.com.au reported on the same story.
