In the goldfields of southern Australia, treasure hunters have unearthed two massive nuggets valued at $350,000 AUD ($250,000 USD).
The two nuggets together weigh a total of 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) and were discovered on the same day close to Tarnagulla in Victoria state, as featured on the latest episode of “Aussie Gold Hunters” on the Discovery Channel.
The discovery of the nuggets is estimated to be worth around $350,000, as reported by CNN. Brent Shannon and his brother-in-law, Ethan West, stumbled upon the nuggets in just a few hours with the assistance of West’s father, Paul West, as stated in a press release from the Discovery Channel. If the nuggets are sold to a collector, they could potentially earn up to 30% more than their estimated value per weight, the release added.
Brent Shannon and Ethan West, who are brothers-in-law, stumbled upon the gold nuggets while exploring with West’s father, Paul, around the historic gold mining town of Tarnagulla. This town was once home to the deepest mine in the world, reaching a depth of 4,613 feet. The family had a feeling that there were still hidden treasures waiting to be discovered in this area and patiently waited for months to obtain the necessary permit to start mining.
Brent Shannon and his brother-in-law Ethan West struck gold in just a few hours with the help of West’s father, Paul West, according to CNN. Shannon shared on the Sunrise show in Australia, “I had a feeling we might find something. It was in untouched land, which hadn’t been mined before.”
The duo had been eagerly awaiting a permit to search for gold in the area for months, as per reports. West mentioned that he has collected thousands of small gold pieces over four years of prospecting. “Finding these two large nuggets in a single day is truly remarkable,” he added.
Known as the Poseidon Crew, the team uses an excavator to dig up soil and then employs a metal detector to locate any hidden gold. In a similar discovery back in January 2013, an amateur explorer dug up a massive 5.5-kilogram (12.1-pound) golden nugget buried 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) below the surface near Ballarat, roughly an hour’s drive south of Tarnagulla. The find was valued at a minimum of $300,000 by experts.
The Poseidon Crew, a team of treasure hunters, utilizes an excavator to dig through soil, followed by a metal detector to locate any gold. According to Cordell Kent from The Mining Exchange Gold Shop, technology has become a crucial tool for contemporary prospectors despite gold being discovered in the area since 1851. Kent mentioned that in the past, miners could only rely on sight or touch, but now with the help of detectors, they can actually hear the presence of gold.
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CNN and 9news.com.au presented the following information.
