A Romanian woman unknowingly used one of the world’s largest amber nuggets as a doorstop for several decades, unaware of its significant value. Found near a stream in the village of Colti, the gemstone is estimated to be worth over €1 million ($1.1 million), with experts dating it to between 38.5 and 70 million years old.

The amber nugget, weighing approximately 7.7 pounds (3.5 kilograms), was initially dismissed as an ordinary rock by the woman who found it. For years, it sat in her home unnoticed by visitors and even burglars, who once broke into her home and left with some jewelry, completely ignoring the valuable stone. The true significance of the amber nugget was only realized after her death in 1991, when a relative took a closer look at the doorstop and suspected it might be valuable.

After the nugget was sold to the Romanian state, experts from the Museum of History in Krakow, Poland, confirmed its authenticity. They identified it as a rare, semi-precious stone with important scientific value. Daniel Costache, the director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau, emphasized that the find holds value not just monetarily but also from a scientific perspective, noting that it is one of the largest pieces of amber ever discovered.

Romania is home to rich amber deposits, particularly in Buzau County, where the unique “Buzau amber” variety is found. The region has produced amber with more than 160 color variations, often containing fossilized remains of ancient creatures like insects and small animals. Some of these deposits have been designated as nature reserves due to their historical and geological significance.

Despite its use as a doorstop, the amber nugget is now recognized as a national treasure, safely housed in the Provincial Museum of Buzau for further study and appreciation.