Old woman uses a simple-looking rock for a doorstop; turns out to be a fossilised stone worth millions
For decades, a Romanian woman unknowingly used an incredible and exceptionally rare piece of amber, a fossilised tree resin, as a doorstop in her home. The 3.5-kilogram stone, which she had picked up from a stream bed in southeastern Romania, turned out to be one of the largest intact amber stones ever found, with a value estimated at $1.1 million or 96,327,888.80 INR, according to El País.
What makes this Amber special?
The amber was identified as rumanite, which is a variety of this fossilised piece known for its rich red tones.
While amber is common in parts of Romania, especially around the village of Colti, where mining has taken place since the 1920s, this particular piece is exceptionally rare. After the woman passed away in 1991, a relative recognized that the simple looking doorstop might be something special and alerted the authorities.
The stone was handed over to the Provincial Museum of Buzau, and later analyzed by experts at the Museum of History in Krakow, Poland, which has a dedicated section for studying semi-precious stones.
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The Polish specialists confirmed that the amber is genuine and estimated its age to be between 38.5 and 70 million years.
Daniel Costache, director of the Buzau museum, described the discovery as deeply significant, "Its discovery represents a great significance both at a scientific level and at a museum level," he told El País, a Spanish news platform.
He further added that the amber chunk is 'one of the largest pieces in the world and the largest of its kind.'
Surprisingly, despite multiple thefts at the lady's home by jewel thieves over the years, the stone remained untouched, simply because no one realized its true value. It silently served its purpose as a doorstop for years, only gaining fame after the woman's death.
What is Amber Rumanite and why is it special
Rumanite is a rare and beautiful type of amber found mainly in Romania. It is special because of its deep reddish-orange colour and its exceptional age, estimated to be between 38 and 70 million years old. Unlike the more common yellow Baltic amber, rumanite is much harder to find and is considered one of the rarest forms in the world. Its unique chemical composition and beautiful appearance make it valuable to scientists and collectors.
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