Huge Australian ‘Nugget’ Turns to April Fools’ Gold

BEENLEIGH, Australia — A huge “gold nugget” unearthed by a Queensland fruit grower was exposed Thursday as an early April Fools’ Day prank.

“I didn’t plan the joke for personal publicity. I just wanted to bring a smile to people on April Fools’ Day, but because tomorrow is Easter Friday, it had to be done a day early,” fruit grower Bob Boyce told reporters.

Reuters news agency incorrectly reported Wednesday that the Australian government had confirmed that the nugget was gold.

Boyce earlier claimed to have discovered the 10-pound nugget, dubbed “Mortgage Buster,” while planting a citrus tree, and said it had been assayed. He had said he planned to use the nugget, which if genuine would have been worth about $70,000, to pay off his mortgage and for a vacation.