A father and son treasure-hunting team recently struck gold—literally.
Anthony Thom and his son Dillon unearthed a massive gold nugget, estimated to be worth over $10,000, while exploring a remote river on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The discovery, which the two described as feeling like “winning the lottery,” has excited prospectors across the region.
The adventure began with their metal detector emitting a loud, steady beep, a sign that something large was buried nearby. Initially, they thought it was just a piece of junk, like an old can. But when they dug down to the bedrock, they discovered an enormous gold nugget, weighing 40 grams—much larger than the tiny flakes they usually find.
The nugget, valued around $7,000 if melted, could sell for as much as $12,000 as a rare specimen. Dillon, who has been passionate about gold hunting since he was 12, says the find is his most exciting yet, and he doesn’t plan to sell it unless he discovers something even bigger. He describes his love for gold hunting as a “fever” that only grows with each discovery.
The pair recorded their entire adventure for their YouTube channel, “The Sluicers,” where they share their gold-hunting journeys. Although many are curious about the nugget’s location, Anthony and Dillon remain tight-lipped, giving only vague hints about the spot in the South Island.
This rare find has brought excitement to New Zealand’s gold-hunting community, with experts saying nuggets of this size are seldom discovered. Despite the high value of the nugget, the Thoms plan to keep it as a memory of their thrilling adventure.
