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Man's incredible $100 million find in his backyard

Workmen have discovered the world’s largest star sapphire cluster while digging a well in a man’s backyard, Sri Lankan authorities say.

Mr Gamage, who declined to give his full name, told BBC the incredible find worth an estimated $100 million was unearthed at his home in Ratnapura.

"The person who was digging the well alerted us about some rare stones. Later we stumbled upon this huge specimen," the cluster's owner said.

Mr Gamage, a third-generation gem trader, said it was discovered last year but it took this long to remove the mud and impurities from the pale blue stone.

The cluster is 2.5 million carats and weights around 510 kilograms. It has been named the “Serenity Sapphire”, the publication reported.

The sapphire cluster covered in mud.
Mr Gamage said the incredible find worth an estimated $100 million was unearthed at his home in Ratnapura. Source: Mr Gamage/BBC

Experts now hope the epic find will attract international buyers.

"It is a special star sapphire specimen, probably the biggest in the world. Given the size and its value, we think it will interest private collectors or museums," Thilak Weerasinghe, the Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka, said, the BBC reports.

Sri Lanka is famous for precious stones, especially sapphires, which come in shades of blue, pink, yellow, violet, white, green and orange.

Local legend says the country’s blue sapphires were formed by the tears of Adam after God expelled him from paradise.

In 2014, a 392.5 carat Sri Lankan sapphire known as the “Blue Belle of Asia” sold for 16.96 million Swiss francs (US$16.94 million) at auction.

With Reuters

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