Recently, a rockhound exploring the Australian outback discovered a unique crystal hidden in a pile of dirt.
Patrick Gundersen, who shares his adventures under the handle @crystals_of_australia, spoke to Fox News Digital about the discovery on Monday. He discovered the crystal during the summer in the Herts Mountains in Australia’s Northern Territory.
A video posted on Instagram shows Gundersen digging up the quartz and pulling it out of the ground. He told Fox News Digital that the jewelry weighed more than 4 pounds.
The striking crystals are elemental quartz, mostly whitish with purple tips. According to Gundersen, Elestial Quartz has secondary growth, which can be seen in photos taken by gemologists.
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A crystal expert recently told Fox News Digital that he had discovered thousands of worth of elemental quartz. (@crystals_of_australia / Instagram)
“What makes this crystal so unique is the pronounced growth pattern along the sides,” the crystal expert explained. “The fact that it has a perfect amethyst crystal on top is very unique.”
“Works like this remind us of the wonders of nature.”
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Elestial Quartz contains a “remarkable growth pattern,” which increases its value. (@crystals_of_australia / Instagram)
Elestial quartz is more commonly found in Brazil and Madagascar, but some are also found in the United States. The fact that this crystal was discovered in Australia is unusual.
“Given the rarity of the composition and the fact that it’s Australian, it could easily be worth thousands of dollars,” he explained. “But it’s unlike anything I’ve found before, so I decided to keep it in my collection.”
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Patrick Gundersen shares his adventures under the handle @crystals_of_australia. (@crystals_of_australia / Instagram)
The crystal expert also said he has a deep interest in rockhounds.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the shapes and colors of crystals,” Gundersen explained. “Ever since I was a child, my best friend had an old quarry on his property and I would often get down on all fours and pick up little crystals.”
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Gundersen told Fox News Digital that he became interested in rockhounds as a child. (@crystals_of_australia/Instagram)
“In my late teens I started looking into more places to explore and went on long adventures into the Australian outback.”
Gundersen added that this kind of discovery usually takes research and time, which makes the hobby even more fun.
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“For me, the thrill has always been the element of treasure hunting,” he said. “It takes research and a lot of exploration, but there is nothing more magical than the reward of finding something truly special like this crystal.”
