A dedicated prospector in North Queensland struck gold when he unearthed a stunning 38-ounce nugget valued at over AU$50,000 using a Minelab GPX 5000 detector. This incredible discovery came right after he found a three-ounce nugget worth around AU$4,000, making it a life-changing moment for the lucky prospector.
“I was over the moon when I came across that first nugget,” said the fortunate individual from Queensland who prefers to remain unidentified. “I would have been satisfied with just that, but after taking a moment to compose myself, I decided to keep searching the same area. To my surprise, just a few swings later, I stumbled upon an even larger nugget.”
Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster of the moment, he added, “I was truly overwhelmed at that point.” Weighing in at over 1 kilogram (1,176gms), the nugget was buried 15cms (six inches) below the surface and detected with the help of the cutting-edge technology of the Minelab GPX 5000 detector.
Describing the thrill of the find, he shared, “It was truly unbelievable. I had been scouring that particular spot for quite some time that day, and I was just about ready to call it quits. However, I decided to give it another shot for about fifteen more minutes, and with just five minutes to spare, I received a promising signal. Confident that it was gold, I started digging.”
“When I initially unearthed the nugget, I wasn’t aware of its true size as my scale only went up to 500 grams. It wasn’t until I got home and weighed it that I realized I had come across a nugget that broke the kilogram mark.”
Reflecting on the find, he mused, “It was tucked beneath some vegetation, which added a bit of challenge to retrieving it. Now, I can’t help but think that maybe those roots are concealing more treasures, just waiting to be discovered another time.”
The happy prospector named his latest discovery the Arcus Nugget, inspired by a double rainbow he saw on his way back to camp. Despite the old saying that gold is found at the end of rainbows, he chose to search the area beneath the highest point of the arc for gold the next day.
“I told myself that’s where we will find gold tomorrow, but I never expected to find so much,” he said. Now, he is in discussions to sell the nugget privately.
With a passion for the wilderness, he got hooked on prospecting about a decade ago. His first encounter with gold was during his second trip, and since then, he has had several successful outings with his trusty GPX 5000.
While the discovery of the Arcus Nugget was undoubtedly his most significant find, he has also uncovered hauls of four and two ounces on earlier trips into the bush. Each find has been exhilarating for the dedicated prospector, with the two-ounce discovery leaving him in awe at the time.
Peter Cragg, Townsville dealer for Minelab, was thoroughly impressed when he laid eyes on the nugget.
“It’s an incredible story that just goes to show there are still sizeable nuggets waiting to be discovered if you have the right tools and can recognize the right terrain. He managed to uncover over a kilogram of gold in an area that has surely been scanned by detectors before. It really makes you wonder what else might still be out there!” he exclaimed.
Minelab’s GPX 5000 detector is a popular choice among serious gold hunters, equipped with advanced technologies such as Multi Period Sensing (MPS), Dual Voltage Technology (DVT), and Smart Electronic Timing Alignment (SETA). With eight different timings catered for optimal performance in various conditions, the high-performing GPX 5000 can navigate tough ground while still maintaining exceptional depth and gold sensitivity.
