Found gold worth millions in Australia at a depth of 10 centimeters

In Australia, a person searching for gold with a metal detector discovered a massive gold nugget weighing 1 kilogram 218 grams just 10 centimeters below the surface. It is said that the piece, valued at around $150,000 to $160,000, could fetch up to $200,000 if sold to a collector.

An amateur gold prospector living in New South Wales, Australia, struck a fortune thanks to his hobby that he has pursued for years. The man, who lives in Broken Hill and keeps his identity hidden, made a striking discovery during a search in the Mount Stuart area near Tibooburra.

In mid‑October, the man who had been searching for gold in the area for several days received a weak signal from his metal detector late in the day. Following the device’s alert, the amateur prospector began digging and encountered a much stronger signal at a depth of about 10 centimeters.

Seeing a bright yellow spot in the soil, the man first thought it might be a painted stone. But shortly thereafter, he realized the find was a large piece of gold.

Weighing 1 kilogram 218 grams

The gold nugget, which contains quartz minerals, weighed 1 kilogram 218 grams when weighed. Analysis showed that about 940 grams of the piece is pure gold.

The market value of the gold is estimated to be between 150,000 and 160,000 dollars. When calculated using the approximate 49.8 TL per dollar rate given in the article, this amount corresponds to roughly 7.5 million to 8 million TL.

The lucky finder named the piece “Tibooburra Spud,” inspired by the region where the discovery was made.

If sold to a collector, its value could reach 10 million TL.

The man considering selling the gold piece to a collector may obtain a higher income from the sale. The value of the piece is not limited to the amount of gold it contains; its size and rarity also matter to collectors.

Because of these features, the gold’s selling price is assessed to reach up to 200,000 dollars. That amount equates to about 10 million TL at the stated exchange rate. However, this figure is merely a possible sales estimate; there is no confirmed information that the gold has been sold at that price.

In 20 Years of Experience, Such Rarity Is Very Rare.

Greg Spangler, who has been selling gold‑searching equipment in Broken Hill for more than 20 years, said that a piece of this size is extremely rare.

Spangler said he has met only one other person in his career who found gold heavier than a kilogram. He noted that most prospectors in the area usually recover small gold flakes or finds weighing a few ounces, emphasizing that kilogram‑scale discoveries are exceptional.

For Years, Mostly Found Worthless Metal Pieces

In his earlier amateur searches, the man had usually encountered old bullets, nails, horse bits, and various metal fragments.

This time, a signal that was initially quite weak turned into a find estimated to be worth millions of lira. The amateur prospector said that if he had not followed the signal, he might have missed the gold.

Gold Prospecting in Tibooburra: A Tradition Dating Back to the 1880s

The area around Tibooburra in Australia has been known for gold prospecting since the late 1880s. The region continues to attract amateur prospectors using metal detectors today.

However, it is not possible to search without permission at every spot in the area. In places such as Mount Stuart and Gumvale, gold can be sought under certain conditions and for a fee, while other regions impose permits and usage restrictions.

Prospectors are advised to exercise patience.

The amateur prospector, who has mostly found non‑valuable items in searches over the years, highlighted the importance of patience after his major discovery.

The man's experience, which emphasized carefully evaluating signals from the metal detector and continuing the search, showed that even a small clue can lead to an unexpected find. The gold fragment located only 10 centimeters beneath the surface became the most valuable find of his long‑running hobby.