A lucky amateur prospector in the Australian state of Victoria has struck gold after unearthing a nugget weighing 5.5kg (177 ounces).
The gold nugget, which has an estimated value A$300,000 ($315,000: £197,000), was reportedly found using a handheld metal detector.
The owner of The Mining Exchange Gold Shop in Ballarat, Cordell Kent, said the find was one of the most significant in his 20 years in the business.
“I have been a prospector and dealer for two decades, and cannot remember the last time a nugget over 100 ounces (2.8kg) has been found locally,” said Cordell Kent, owner of the Ballarat Mining Exchange Gold Shop.
“It’s extremely significant as a mineral specimen. We are 162 years into a gold rush and Ballarat is still producing nuggets – it’s unheard of,” he told the BBC.
He also said the man who made the dramatic find said the nugget sounded like the bonnet of a car through the headphones.
Mr Kent is now seeking a buyer for the nugget on behalf of the lucky prospector, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Amateur prospecting is increasingly popular with gold in Australia trading at about A$1,600 per ounce.
