Doorstop Discovery: A Million-Dollar Surprise!

By: | September 14th, 2024

The 3.5-kilogram amber nugget is the biggest piece of rumanite ever found. (Buzău County Museum)

Who knew a humble doorstop could be worth a fortune? A Romanian woman’s everyday life took a dramatic turn when a seemingly ordinary rock, which she had used to prop her door open for years, was revealed to be a massive chunk of amber valued at over a million dollars!

A Hidden Treasure in Plain Sight

The story began in a small Romanian village. The woman, had discovered the rock in a nearby stream bed and brought it home. For years, it served as a simple doorstop, holding open her front door. However, little did she know that she had unknowingly been safeguarding a million-dollar treasure.

The rock, as it turns out, was a large chunk of amber—fossilized tree resin highly prized for its beauty and rarity. Amber is often used in jewelry and other decorative items, but this particular piece was especially remarkable due to its size and quality.

The Revelation After Her Passing

It wasn’t until after her passing that a relative discovered the rock’s true value. Upon closer inspection, experts were stunned by the amber nugget’s remarkable size as well as quality. Ultimately, the piece was estimated to be worth around €1 million, or approximately $1.1 million.

The discovery sent shockwaves through the local community. The woman’s unexpected windfall has sparked conversations and inspired dreams of hidden treasures. The amber nugget, now considered a national treasure, is housed in a museum for public viewing.

Nidhi Goyal

Nidhi is a gold medalist Post Graduate in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

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