1 of 1 The stone was found in a region famous for gold — Photo: DARREN KAMP/BBC The stone was found in a region famous for gold — Photo: DARREN KAMP/BBC
An Australian hit the jackpot when he found a 4.6kg rock with gold valued at US$160,000 (R$831,000).
The discovery was made using a simple and inexpensive metal detector.
The man, who wishes not to be named, made the discovery in the gold mines of Victoria the heart of Australia’s 19th century gold rush.
Darren Kamp, who reviewed and bought the nugget, said it was the biggest he’d seen in his 43year career.
“I was shocked. It’s a onceinalifetime discovery,” he told the BBC.
Kamp hadn’t thought much of it when a man carrying a large backpack entered his store in Geelong, about an hour southwest of Melbourne. According to traders, people usually come with fool’s gold (pyrite) or other stones that just look like gold.
“But he pulled out this rock and when he dropped it in my hand he said, ‘Do you think it’s worth $10,000 AUD?'” she says.
“I looked at him and said, ‘Try A$100,000’ (R$340,000).”
The man then went on to tell him that the stone was in Kamp’s hand it was only half the find.
In total, the 4.6 kg of rock contained about 2.6 kg of gold.
After the evaluation, Kamp decided to close the deal and kept the nugget.
He says the lucky man is eager to spend the windfall on his family: “He told me his wife would be delighted.”
Although discoveries like these are rare, Australia is estimated to have the largest gold reserves in the world and many of the largest gold nuggets have been found in this country.