Man keeps rock for years, hoping it’s gold — it turned out to be way more valuable

Sunday, November 30, 2025 -David Hole, a prospector in Victoria, Australia, discovered an unusually heavy, reddish rock set in yellow clay while searching a local park. Convinced it could be a gold nugget, he took it home and spent years attempting to break it open with saws, drills, angle grinders, acid, and even a sledgehammer — all without success.

Finally, Hole turned the rock over to experts at Melbourne Museum, who made a startling discovery. The rock was not gold but a 4.6-billion-year-old meteorite — one of the oldest known objects on Earth. Its rarity and scientific significance make it far more valuable than the gold he had originally hoped to find.

The discovery has sparked excitement among collectors and scientists, highlighting how everyday curiosity and persistence can lead to extraordinary finds. Authorities and experts are now studying the meteorite to understand its composition and origins, adding a remarkable story to Australia’s list of unusual discoveries.