A fortunate Australian prospector struck gold when his trusty metal detector led him right to a remarkable discovery. He stumbled upon a sizeable 87-ounce nugget of pure gold, hidden just six inches beneath the earth’s surface. This incredible find occurred in the renowned gold-rich town of Wedderburn, located in Central Victoria.
The “Fair Dinkum” nugget, with its precious metal worth of around $102,000, holds even greater value in the eyes of Mick Brown, a 42-year-old resident from Kerang, Australia. He firmly believes that the unique characteristics of his nugget have the potential to fetch twice the amount when it lands in the hands of the perfect collector.
He mentioned to
The Age
that on occasion, people claim that if a gold nugget is exceptionally attractive, its worth can be double its weight in gold.
Brown is brimming with confidence in the potential of his precious nugget to fetch a handsome sum. With its impressive grooves and captivating movements, he firmly believes that it will capture the attention of buyers and secure top dollar. In a strikingly similar vein, an astounding 97-ounce golden nugget, discovered using a metal detector in the renowned Gold Rush Country of Northern California, was recently auctioned off for a staggering $400,000, the final bidder choosing to remain anonymous. Gold enthusiasts often christen their extraordinary finds with apt monikers, and Brown is certainly no exception to this tradition. Fondly naming his glorious treasure “Fair Dinkum,” he pays homage to an Australian expression signifying utmost authenticity and realness.
Brown mentioned to The Age that individuals are often left in awe by the sheer size of the nugget and exclaim, “Gee, this is massive!”
The fortunate Australian owes his discovery to his wife’s encouragement to step out of the confines of their home that day. As per Brown’s recollection in The Age, he was feeling restless due to his recent decision to quit smoking a couple of weeks prior. His wife suggested he go outside for some fresh air. Consequently, he embarked on a journey of 64 miles southwards to Wedderburn, a region he had previously explored in search of valuable minerals.
Brown shared his experience of the moment his metal detector signaled the presence of a massive gold deposit in the earth. “It was like a thunderbolt to my ears, you can picture the surprise,” he remarked.
After only digging about six inches deep, he managed to grip onto the horn-shaped protrusions of the “Fair Dinkum” nugget and extracted it from the earth. Initially, he mistook it for a large lump of copper, but soon realized it was actually gold. To celebrate, he cracked open a cold beer and raised a toast.
Concerned about setting off a gold rush, Brown chose not to disclose the exact location of his discovery. However, he had no reservations about proudly displaying the impressive “Fair Dinkum” nugget. He jokingly questioned, “Should I say, ‘Yes, I found a nugget, but you can’t see it?'” He found it thrilling to share his find, which has excited many others.
Brown happily shared that he intends to use the money from selling the nugget to buy a luxurious home spa for his wife and four daughters. Despite this significant windfall, he remains motivated to uncover an even larger nugget in the future. “There are some huge 10 kilo ones out there,” he revealed.
While Brown’s “Fair Dinkum” nugget is sizeable, it is by no means the largest to be found in the Australian countryside. In 1981, the “Pride of Australia,” weighing 256 ounces, was discovered not far away in Mosquito Gully, just north of Wedderburn.
Images: Recorded footage from 9NEWS, Australia.
