MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Gold prices dropped sharply on Friday after data showed a much stronger-than-expected rise for nonfarm payrolls. Data showed the economy added 236,000 jobs in February and the jobless level fell to 7.7%, the lowest level since Dec. 2008. Economists had been calling for gains of 160,000. April gold gcj3, up $1.70 and a hair under $1,600 an ounce ahead of the move, fell $9.70 to $1,565.40 an ounce. May silver sik3 fell 37 cents, or 1.2%, to $28.45 an ounce. Silver was down 1 cent ahead of that data.