A lucky Australian treasure hunter hit the jackpot when his metal detector led him to an 87-ounce gold nugget buried just six inches beneath the ground near the well-known gold mining town of Wedderburn in Central Victoria.
The “Fair Dinkum” nugget holds a valuable treasure worth around $102,000, yet Mick Brown, a 42-year-old resident of Kerang, Australia, is convinced that its true worth could double in the eyes of the perfect collector.
He mentioned to The Age that there’s a belief that a beautifully shaped gold nugget is worth twice its weight in gold.
Brown is feeling pretty optimistic about the potential value of his discovery. “I believe this nugget has some real potential to fetch a good price,” he confidently stated.
Back in October, a hefty 97-ounce gold nugget was discovered using a metal detector in the renowned Gold Rush Country of Northern California. The nugget was later sold to an undisclosed buyer for a whopping $400,000.
When it comes to gold prospectors and their finds, naming them is a cherished tradition. Brown is following suit by christening his nugget “Fair Dinkum,” a term from Down Under meaning “genuine” or “authentic.”
Brown shared with
The Age
that people are always amazed by the size of the nugget when they hold it, often exclaiming, “Wow, this is massive!”
The fortunate Australian credits his wife for pushing him to go out of the house on the day he discovered the nugget. He admitted that he was feeling grumpy due to quitting smoking for two weeks. Following his wife’s advice, he decided to go for a drive, eventually ending up 64 miles south in Wedderburn, a place he had explored for gold before.
Brown was shocked by the reaction of his metal detector to the massive amount of gold buried underground. “I was absolutely floored by that signal, it caught me completely off guard,” he exclaimed.
After just digging down a few inches, he managed to grab hold of the horn-like projections of the “Fair Dinkum” nugget and pull it out of the ground. Initially mistaking it for a chunk of copper, he soon realized it was gold and celebrated by cracking open a beer.
To avoid sparking a gold rush, Brown kept the exact location of his discovery a secret. However, he had no qualms about proudly displaying the impressive “Fair Dinkum” nugget, stating, “Why hide it? It’s cool to show it off and it’s got everyone excited.”
With the proceeds from selling the nugget, Brown plans to buy a home spa for his wife and four daughters. Despite his success, he remains determined to find an even larger nugget one day, mentioning the possibility of uncovering some massive 10-kilo treasures.
Although Brown’s find was considerable, it pales in comparison to the 256-ounce “Pride of Australia” nugget discovered in 1981 near Mosquito Gully, just north of Wedderburn.
