A man in Australia made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery when he discovered a sapphire the size of a tiny child’s fist on an evening stroll.
Matt Betteridge discovered the “very uncommon” stone approximately 100 meters from his mining claim on the Reward fossicking site at Rubyvale in Queensland’s Gemfields.
Mr. Betteridge was first so nonchalant about what he saw that he returned to the camp to retrieve his phone so he could record himself uncovering it.
When he returned, he added, “You have no idea how much control it takes not to dig up these gems when I find them.”
If he had known the worth of the object he was about to unearth, he would not have allowed it out of his sight for a second.
The sparkle in the mud turned out to be an 834-carat sapphire estimated to be worth $12,500, and it is not for sale.
Mr. Betteridge’s TikTok video, which has garnered more than a quarter million views, began by demonstrating that someone else had recently explored the area but failed to see the dazzling reward just metres away.
As he moved the camera closer to the gem, he remarked, “Notice how it sparkles!”
As he began to poke around it, he realized there was something substantial in the earth and exclaimed, “Oh, that’s got some size.”
“Oh my goodness, look at that. Holy crap!’ he said as he exposed the rock to the light of his mobile phone camera. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9830029/Star-sapphire-cluster-worth-100million-discovered-Sri-Lankan-mans-backyard.html
‘No way! Holy crap!’ he exclaimed, using more restraint than most people would have in the similar situation.
“What the heck, men!” I just topped my biggest one again. What the hell is going on? I apologize, but I cannot even speak. ‘Take note,’ he exclaimed.
Upon realizing what he had discovered, Mr. Betteridge laughed with delight and exclaimed, “Oh my Lord, look at the size of that crystal!”
He cleaned the sapphire to display it to the audience and estimated that it weighed 400 carats.
After stating this, the video clip displayed the image ‘843ct!!!!! Have to work on my estimates.
Mr. Betteridge’s enthusiasm was contagious as he announced, “Okay, gentlemen, I’m going home to clean this up.”
“This is so enormous!” he exclaimed, followed by more ecstatic laughter.
Mr. Betteridge exhibited the gem ‘in all her beauty’ in a follow-up film he made the next day, after cleaning it of grime.
As it glittered in the sunlight, he stated that it was a “wonderful Australian sapphire weighing 834 carats.”
He then whirled it in his hand to highlight the crystals within it. “How incredible is that?” he asked.
Mr. Betteridge then stated that its estimated value was $12,500.
“This will be added to the collection,” he stated.
This is a beautiful specimen. ‘Won’t be available for purchase,’
He did not completely rule out the notion, however.
However, everything comes at a price. As the saying goes, money talks.
‘Beautiful. Let’s see what more I can unearth from this soil.
Rubyvale is one of the world’s largest sapphire-bearing regions.
Gem hunters believe they have a greater chance of discovering something valuable after rain since it washes away some topsoil, and the region was overwhelmed by significant rainfall and flash flooding.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Rubyvale received 182mm between October 16 and October 21.
Mr. Betteridge urged others to attempt to duplicate his good fortune.
“It was discovered as a result of general excavation… Mr. Betteridge told the ABC that anyone can participate.
Grab a prospecting permit and a camping license and try your luck.
The Gemmological Association of Australia’s Helen Levonis remarked that Mr. Betteridge’s discovery was quite rare among sapphires.
“When you obtain something… such as an 830-carat sapphire, it is wonderful,” he remarked.
Ms. Levonis concurs with Mr. Betteridge that his discovery should not be divided into smaller bits.
She stated, “These sapphires grew hundreds of thousands of years ago.”
There are no more arriving… …and we must appreciate that when we see something weighing 800 carats. Daily Mail Australia sought to reach Mr. Betteridge for comment.