Australia: Hobbyist discovers 1.2 kilogram gold nugget

A hobbyist gold prospector has discovered a massive, quartz-bearing gold nugget in the Australian Outback near Tibooburra, New South Wales. Using a metal detector at the Mount Stuart Station, the individual unearthed the specimen, which weighs a total of 1,218 grams.

Initial analyses indicate the nugget contains approximately 940 grams of pure gold. The finder has named the discovery the “Tibooburra Spud” due to its tuber-like shape.

The material value of the gold is estimated to be between 150,000 and 160,000 Australian dollars. However, due to the rarity of intact nuggets of this size, the finder anticipates a potential sale price of up to 200,000 Australian dollars from collectors.