In North Queensland, a passionate prospector struck gold by finding a stunning 38-ounce gold nugget valued at over AU$50,000 using a Minelab GPX 5000 detector. This amazing discovery came right after unearthing a three-ounce nugget worth around AU$4,000, making it a truly life-changing moment for the lucky prospector.
“When I stumbled upon the first nugget, I was thrilled because it was the largest one I had ever found,” shared the anonymous Queenslander.
“After calming down, I decided to go back to the same spot and restart my detector. To my surprise, just after a couple of swings, I unearthed an even bigger one.”
“I was definitely hit with a wave of emotions at that moment,” he recalled.
Weighing over a kilogram (1,176gms), the nugget was buried 15cms (six inches) below the surface and was detected using the advanced gold-seeking technology of the Minelab GPX 5000 detector.
“It’s truly unbelievable. I had been searching in that area for a while that day and was just about to call it quits. However, I decided to give it another shot for fifteen more minutes. With just five minutes left, I received a solid signal – not too loud, but I had a gut feeling it was gold – so I started digging.”
“At first, I had no idea of the nugget’s size because my scales only went up to 500 grams. It wasn’t until I got home later that I realized I had found a nugget over a kilo.”
“The nugget was hidden under some vegetation, making it a bit challenging to extract. Now, I can’t help but wonder if those roots are safeguarding other large nuggets, waiting to be discovered another day.”
The happy prospector has decided to call his discovery the Arcus Nugget, inspired by the double rainbow he saw the day before finding it. In Latin, Arcus means rainbow.
On his way back to camp, he witnessed his first-ever double rainbow and, disregarding the superstition that gold is at the end of rainbows, he pinpointed the area under the highest point of the rainbow to search the next day.
“I told myself we would find gold there tomorrow, but I never imagined it would be such a large amount.”
He is currently in talks to sell the nugget privately.
Having developed a passion for prospecting about a decade ago, this nature enthusiast was hooked after finding his first piece of gold on just his second trip.
Although discovering the Arcus Nugget was undoubtedly a highlight, he has also enjoyed success with his GPX 5000 detector on previous bush excursions, gathering hauls of four and two ounces.
“Every find is exhilarating. The trip where I found two ounces was a real ‘wow’ moment for me at the time.”
Peter Cragg, Minelab’s authorized dealer in Townsville, expressed his astonishment at the discovery of the nugget. He shared, “It’s an incredible tale that proves there are still large nuggets waiting to be unearthed with the right tools and a keen eye for terrain. He managed to find over a kilogram of gold in an area that has already been searched by detectors before. It really makes you wonder what else could still be out there!”
The Minelab GPX 5000 remains a top choice for dedicated gold prospectors, boasting cutting-edge technologies such as Multi Period Sensing (MPS), Dual Voltage Technology (DVT), and Smart Electronic Timing Alignment (SETA). With eight customizable timings designed for optimal performance across a range of conditions, the GPX 5000 is a favorite among those in search of precious metals.
