Rock Used As Doorstop For Years Discovered To Be Worth More Than $1 Million

Experts estimate the amber's age to be an astonishing 38 to 70 million years.

Damjan

• Published in News
• September 15, 2024

Amber, a fossilized tree resin, has fascinated humanity for centuries with its warm hues and historical significance. While most associate gemstones with dazzling jewelry, amber often serves more practical or unexpected purposes.

Such was the case for an elderly woman in Romania, whose simple use of a large chunk of amber as a doorstop turned into a remarkable story of hidden treasure. The amber stone, weighing 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds), was discovered decades ago in southeast Romania.

The woman, unaware of its actual value, found the stone in a stream bed near her village, Colti, and took it home. For years, it was used as a humble doorstop.

However, the chunk of 'rock' would later be identified as one of the most giant intact pieces of amber in the world. Its value? A staggering €1 million, equivalent to roughly $1.1 million in today's currency.

As many know, Amber is an ancient tree resin that has been fossilized for millions of years. This once-sticky substance hardens into a material often prized for its beauty and warmth.

Amber has been used for everything from ornamental jewelry to museum displays. It is valued not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for its ancient history.

Sometimes, amber pieces preserve prehistoric plant material or even insects, capturing a glimpse of the Earth's distant past.

Rock has been used as a doorstop for years. It was found to be worth over $1 million.

"Its discovery represents a great significance both at a scientific level and at a museum level," said Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau.

In Romania, amber can be found in various parts of the country, particularly near the village of Colti, where amber has been mined since the 1920s. This local amber, known as rumanite, is particularly prized for its deep reddish hues and diverse colorations.

Here, the elderly woman discovered her treasure, though she never realized its significance during her lifetime.

The nugget of rumanite performed its mundane task as a doorstop even after the woman's passing in 1991. Only when a relative inherited her home did suspicions arise about the stone's true nature. Upon learning its potential value, the relative decided to sell the amber to the Romanian state.

The piece was sent to experts at the Museum of History in Krakow, Poland, for evaluation. These experts confirmed that the amber was between 38 and 70 million years old, a discovery of great scientific and cultural importance.

The piece of amber.

Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau, highlighted the find's significance, stating that it held scientific value and immense importance for museums and collectors.

Since 2022, the amber has been displayed at the Provincial Museum of Buzau, where visitors can admire its size and beauty.

This story is similar to other surprising finds. For example, a man in Michigan discovered that the rock he'd been using as a doorstop for years was a meteorite worth $100,000.

The amber found in Romania is now considered a national treasure. It continues to amaze people at museums and scientists. Its accidental discovery and use as a simple doorstop remind us that valuable things can often be right before us without knowing.

Damjan