Boy’s incredible $10k find 200m from home

A seven-year-old Queenslander has astounded his family and garnered widespread praise for an eagle-eyed find that could be worth $10,000.

Seven-year-old Riley Betteridge has astounded his family in the heart of Queensland and garnered widespread praise for his remarkable eye for precious stones.

Living in a renowned mining region in the state’s gemfields near Rubyvale, Riley recently demonstrated astonishing fossicking prowess on a Tuesday afternoon with a find thought to be worth up to $10,000.

The Betteridge family runs Betteridge Sapphires, a small business in the gemstone trade.

However, just metres from their doorstep, Riley’s discovery left even the seasoned gem-hunting parents in awe.

Seven-year-old Riley Betteridge discovered a valuable gemstone just metres from his family’s doorstep in Queensland’s gemfields. Picture: TikTok

The gemstone, estimated to be worth between $5,000 and $10,000 once cut, was praised for its blue and green hues. Picture: TikTok

“He’s got an eye for it,” his dad Matt told Yahoo News in the wake of a viral video of Riley.

“That’s about 300 metres, maybe 200 metres from home.”

In a recent social media post, still in his school uniform, Riley ran excitedly towards his father, clutching what he believed to be a sapphire.

“That looks really good, mate,” Matt yelled upon inspecting the stone, marvelling at its blue and green hues.

“That is your best stone yet by far.”

The footage of Riley’s find quickly went viral, captivating over a million viewers who hailed the young boy’s remarkable discovery.

The Betteridge family, who run a small business in the gemstone trade, had previously experienced viral success with Matt’s discovery of an 834-carat Australian sapphire in 2022. Picture: TikTok

Messages flooded in, celebrating what many dubbed a “proud father and son moment.”

Skilled in faceting, Riley’s mother, Amber, assessed the stone’s potential value, noting its lack of internal fractures and estimating its worth between $5,000 and $10,000 once cut.

“The finished colour will make the difference,” she told Yahoo News.

No strangers to remarkable discoveries, the Betteridge family had previously experienced viral success when Matt unearthed an astonishing 834-carat Australian sapphire near their land in 2022.

In a TikTok documenting the find, Matt’s initial attempt to extract the gem revealed its impressive size, which required further excavation to reveal it fully.

As they prepare to cut and polish Riley’s latest discovery, the family is leaving the ultimate decision in the young boy’s hands, allowing him to determine the fate of his small yet extraordinary find.