Amateur Prospector Finds 12 Pound Gold Nugget in Australia With Metal Detector

Posted on January 17, 2013

An amateur prospector found a huge gold nugget near Ballarat in the Australian state of Victoria. The nugget weighs 5.5 kilograms (12.12 pounds). The prospector found the nugget using a metal detector. Ballarat Mining Exchange Gold Shop owner Cordell Kent says the prospector heard a faint noise with the metal detector and started digging.

He says the prospector initially thought it was a car bonnet. The Age reports that the 12 pound nugget has an estimated value of over $300,000.

Here is a video of the gold nugget:

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