Read today that this was found in or around Emerald recently. Any other info? Apparently the finder was just kicking a few stones over when he found it.
Mackka
I haven't heard - but this is about the time of year when a "big find" on the field tends to make it's way to the newspapers, just in time for the start of the tourist season
"I haven't heard - but this is about the time of year when a "big find" on the field tends to make it's way to the newspapers, just in time for the start of the tourist season"
Yep, start of the cooler, drier weather heralds the beginning of the tourist season on the CQ gemfields and the big find headlines
However, they certainly do exist and turn up there from time to time. I have a 155 carat blue found by my father at Russian gully (unfortunately a bit dark for faceting but might be a good carving subject). I remember a European couple up the track from us at around the same time (late 70's/early 80's) found a very large, good quality green they dubbed "The Easter Egg" because they found it on Easter Sunday. Can't recall the weight but she was big. And I was shown an absolutely stunning 107 carat stone a few years back by the bloke who shot the compass bearings for our claims - it was an incredible stone, very clean, light green in one direction, orange in the other and pink in artificial light. A true alexandrite stone!
So the big finds are not that common but they keep us all inspired