Aussie Man Finds Rare Gem After Wild Weather: ‘Waiting to be Found’
A Queensland man discovers a stunning 394-carat sapphire during a walk after heavy rain, choosing to keep it in its natural state
Rubyvale, Queensland, Sapphire, Gemstone, Discovery
Rubyvale: So, there’s this guy named Matthew Betteridge who just had the most amazing find while out for a walk. He stumbled upon a gorgeous 394-carat sapphire, and he’s totally in love with it. He thinks it’s so beautiful that he wants to keep it just as it is.
Matthew lives in Rubyvale, a spot in Queensland known for its precious gemstones. After some heavy rain, he thought he’d take a quick stroll to see if he could spot any gems. And guess what? He did! He saw something shiny in the road and decided to dig it out.
He told Yahoo News that it felt like the gem was just “waiting to be found.” This sapphire is the biggest one he’s ever discovered in his 15 years of mining. How cool is that?
Matthew and his partner Amber are professional sapphire miners, and they usually find and sell most of the gems themselves. Their son Riley even found a gem worth thousands! They’ve decided not to cut this sapphire, even though it could be worth around $1,000. For them, it’s more about the gem’s natural beauty.
Matthew said, “It’s going to stay exactly the way it is because it’s a pretty cool crystal structure.” He feels that cutting it would be a shame since it’s so stunning in its natural form. Even after years of mining, he still gets that rush from finding gems.
Amber added that their social media is all about raising awareness for Australian sapphires and encouraging others to try their luck. You never know what you might find while walking around! It’s a fun and rewarding experience.