MELBOURNE -- An Australian prospector has found a 145-ounce gold nugget worth an estimated 190,000 U.S. dollars.
The hobbyist prospector, who chose to remain anonymous, was searching in Victoria's famous golden triangle, the world's richest goldfield, when he came across what he thought was an "old horseshoe."
It wasn't until he dug deeper that the prospector realized he had unearthed a huge nugget which is worth an estimated 190,000 U. S. dollars.
The discovery of the 4,121 grams nugget came the day after the prospector found a nine-ounce nugget, roughly the shape of a tennis ball, worth approximately 11,000 U.S. dollars.
The man, who previously promised his prospecting friends that he would split the profits on any large gold finds, said the two discoveries were reward for spending his weekends treasure hunting over the past decade.
The unidentified prospector is one of dozens of hopeful treasure hunters who head to the 9,400 square kilometer "golden triangle" in central Victoria, bordered by the towns of Castlemaine, Wedderburn and Avoca each weekend. This is where the largest single nugget, the 97-kilogram "Welcome Stranger," was found in 1869, lying just three centimeters below the surface.
Replicas of the two new nuggets are now being constructed to display at auctions which are being planned.
The prospector said he plans to use the small fortune to buy a caravan and go on a road trip around Australia. (PNA)