The (yellow) stuff that dreams made of....

It was a coldish morning. We met at GullyHunter & TheSmilingAsssasin about 5.45am and it was still dark. My head was thumping after only 3.5 hours sleep and so was TheGoldenChild's. After a quick cupper, we headed off to try and find some colour. I have to admit that it wasn't my first preference of destinations but I figured one place is as good as another and I’m always up for trying new areas as I’ve been given the ok to go to “the other area” tomorrow. We drive for just short of an hour and rock up to where we are all going to make strike it lucky today.
To cut a long story short, we all start swinging and keep swinging and then swing some more. It starting to get a little warmer now and there are more frequent smoko breaks for a little bit of rest. I wander around and catch up to GullyHunter. After a bit of a chin wag, we keep swinging, him one way and me the other. About 20 minutes later I look up and see GullyHunter acting a little strange in the distance. I call out on the radio if the “eagle had landed?” and to my surprise he answers that it most definitely had. (Please see his vid (as if you haven’t) titled “2 Ouncer – The Golden Triangle – 14/1/2012”). OMG finally I’m going to see some colour! I get on over to where he’s been digging and WOW what a beauty!!!
GullyHunter calls out to the other boys over the radio to come and see and sure enough, their eyes pop out of their heads when they catch a glimpse of it. We all joke about it shape being similar to a map of Tassie, and now we have to find one that’s got the shape of Australia. Lots of laughs and stories (and smokes) later, all pumped up, we decide to head off and look for more of these beauties.
Well, I set off downstream, turn my old trusty 2200d on and swing as I leave and low and behold not 3 meters away I pick up this faint but definitely distinct signal. It just sounded so sweet right from the start and it just couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. It didn’t sound trashy in any way and it sounded deep to me. I scratched and it was still there. I dug a couple of inches, and it was still there and just a little louder. Hmmmmm nice……. Ok now I start hitting rocks and clay and what felt so hard it felt like concrete. The signal is still there but by now, so much louder. GullyHunter has started shooting the video, TheGoldenChild uses his detector as the pinpointer, and I’m digging hard. The guys are starting to stir me now cause I’m being careful not to damage the nugget (I definitely knew it was a nugget – I just felt it in my gut) and they just wanted it out, to see it, to touch it. Over 15 minutes of digging the wait was over, it popped out. At first it was dirty but after a wash, what an absolute 5oz beauty it cleaned up to be. I apologise in advance if I said anything stupid on the vid as I was in a little bit of shock/surprise. We all dream of pulling up a big one, we all hope for it, but as for me, I really didn’t think I’d really ever dig one up for real. It just a surprise when it happens.
My thanks go out to all the guys that shared my thrill on the day, but especially to GullyHunter for without his big-heartedness, I never would be holding this fine-looking nugget that you see in the following pictures. Many thanks Glen….







Hopefully we'll have a link to GullyHunter's vid soon..

Here is the early part of the video, as I've only got audio for the second. I'll try and get that on soonish when I get a chance. At least you can hear what the target initially sounds like in the ground...

Speechless,nothing more to add.Maybe we don't need the 5 cent coin anymore!

hi c.d. top stuff. and all the big stuff is gone eh.? well done. worth afew $$$$ there. mbe team work is the go, split the loot? noice to see felas. cheers.

That is inspiring to read.
Sounds like you did everything right.
Nice going and congratulations, well earned.

OMG! That is an amazing find CostasDee. Your title is so true. Congratulations on your find and being able to share it with your mates. Goes to show you don't need a fancy new machine!

well done mate a very nice find seeing something like that makes me look at my gold and think why can't i get something like that insted off sub gramers... oneday it will happen
cheers
stoppsy

Hi CostasDee,

Woooow >>>> The thrill hey. That's an absolute beaut, you will never forget the day you found that mate.

Congrats and thanks for sharing
Ararat

Hey CD,

I saw GH's vid on YouTube around 5:30 lats nigh and thought WOW, what could top that? Then I see your post this morning and I'm in amazement to what you guys have achieved over the weekend.

I think the new " A " team is born

I guess there is no need to bench test the 2200D any more, so happy for the whole team, I guess some serious celerbrating will be happening or happened.

Well done again

Pete

Congrats, You guys have just had a day's detecting that you will never forget, Great story, Brilliant find !
Cheers
Ashley

Hi CostasDee What can I say about your great find that hasn't be said before except "A Bloody beautiful Nugget, mate" and at 5 oz you would be over the moon.
I'm planning to go out today and I'll be just happy to get a nugget, but it looks like the "Gold Nugget God" is shining down on some of us at the momment so I'm hoping it will shine on me "Big Time"

Wombat
PS You do'nt need a 5c peace you need a $100 note sitting next to it

Good stuff......might be time to update the Avatar me thinks

Looks better in real life, now for the 100 ounce piece .

WOW excitement plus It`s very inspiring to see such bigger nuggets being unearthed Congratulations CostasDee, and i`m looking forward to the video..as is everybody

Cheers
Eureka Dreams

what a magnificent piece
well done
dave

Well done CostasDee.Fantastic start to the new year. Looking forward to the video.

Cheers kon61.

what can you say except......WOW....fantastic

That's amazing Costasdee, a great nugget. A nugget I found here in the West last year weighed exactly 154 grams as well. cheers Pete. PS Certainly not trying to steal your thunder Costasdee,just thought it a fair coincidence

Seems there's a shortage of 2200D's at the moment(or there will be)
I,m really happy for you'se guys, you have inspired us all.

Congratulations on the find.
Look forward to the vid.
Cheers spinna

Well I'm speechless.............Holy shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!

Forget the A-TEAM try the MAGNIFICAT SEVEN (5+2)

Congratulations on the find, an OMG moment for sure.

Hi CD,

Mate, still Pee Green at this end, absolutely spewing that I had the 50th on and could not tag along on Saturday, but that is prospecting.

Just wondering what the coil was that you had on the 2200D

Saw it was an 11", but could not pick the DD or the mono?

Pete

Thanks guys for all your good words and cheers. Mariner the detector that your seeing in Glen's video is Manny's 4500 with his 11" Mono. I was using a Coiltek 14"DD Pro Elite, which I use as my general purpose, everyday, everytime coil (I just love it). You'll see it on Part 1 of the video that I have now inserted at the start of this post.

Let me just add that I did read somewhere on another post about where it "might have" been found, but guys I'm not going to say don't bother cause that's totally your decision but what I will say is that 5 of us spent over 10 solid hours that day and 6 more hours the following day, combing every inch of that ground and the surounding ground with machines from the 2200d, 4500 and 5000s, and with coils from the 11" Mono right up to 18" Mono and a few in between and 14" DD to 24" DD (the satellite dish) and we found absolutely nothing else with the exception of a very few bits of rubbish, anywhere around there. These were just 2 nuggets that were thankfully missed by the old timers when they dug their trench by a matter of a few feet, so myself personally I'm prety satisfied that the area is now cleared and I don't feel that I will be rushing back there for a while, and although the saying goes "nobody gets everything", I'm pretty sure we combed that whole area very thoughly and I'd be very surprised if anyone found even a small 22 slug anywhere around there....

On to the next time......

G'day CostasDee

I only just now spotted your video, been eyeballing the other ones that Glen put up and missed this one.

Thas a great vedio mate and what an awesome nugget it turned out to be. Thanks for sharing the pics and video.

Well done & cheers dave

congrats costa dee i know exactly how you feel cause words cant describe that feeling ENJOY cheers al

Congratulations thats awesome. Couldn't see the second vid though..

Dicko..

Self edited to keep the noise down

that is amazing stuff! puts us and our sub grammers all to shame .
Maybe Minelab should work on the 2200 platform and improve that ......?
well done and I am very happy for you
bedrock

Your right CostaDee, " on to the next time " You guys are obviously doing it right !, I hope the slip up in the vid doesnt deter you guys from posting your finds for us all to see & enjoy. By your initial report this spot wasnt your first choice, It turned out to be an absolute ripper spot for 2 of you , Again congrats ! love to hear how you get on with your first choice other spot !
Cheers
Ashley