Man’s Years-Long Quest to Crack ‘Gold Nugget’ Reveals Ancient Space Rock
MARYBOROUGH, AUSTRALIA – What began as a hopeful gold strike for an amateur explorer in 2015 ultimately revealed a far more unusual discovery: a 17-kilogram meteorite over four billion years old. David Hole, a resident of Maryborough, a historic gold-mining region in Victoria, Australia, spent three years attempting to break open a heavy, reddish stone he believed to be a massive gold nugget before realizing its true, extraterrestrial origin.
The story highlights the enduring allure of the gold rush and the unexpected scientific treasures hidden in plain sight. The Maryborough meteorite, as its now known, is only the second confirmed meteorite brought to the Melbourne Museum in 37 years, offering a rare glimpse into the early solar system and providing valuable data for researchers studying the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Its discovery underscores the potential for citizen scientists to contribute to significant astronomical findings.
Hole initially unearthed the unusual rock while using a metal detector in 2015. Surrounded by yellow clay, the stone’s weight and colour led him to believe he’d found a substantial gold deposit. Driven by this conviction, he embarked on a determined effort to extract what he thought was precious metal.
“He tried everything: saw,grinder,drill,acid bath. Not even the brute force of a sledgehammer could crack the resistant block,” according to reports. Despite years of relentless attempts, the stone remained stubbornly intact.
in 2018, Hole brought the puzzling object to the Melbourne Museum for analysis. Geologist dermot Henry quickly identified it not as gold, but as a meteorite. “In 37 years of working at the museum, this is only the second time they have brought me a real meteorite,” Henry stated in a 2019 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
the Maryborough meteorite is believed to have originated in the asteroid belt and is one of only 17 meteorites ever identified in the state of Victoria. It ranks as the second-heaviest meteorite found in the region, surpassed only by a 55-kilogram specimen. Researchers continue to study the meteorite, hoping to unlock further secrets about its composition and journey through space.