A Queensland man has made a fortuitous discover after recognizing a glittering rock that turned out to be a valuable gem “the scale of a small kid’s fist”.

In video uploaded to TikTok, Matt Betteridge will be heard exclaiming “Holy Dooley” when he releases the big gem from the earth. He declares it to be a “monster” 834 carat sapphire.

Chatting with 9news.com.au, Betteridge stated the discover left him in absolute shock.

”We’re normally on the lookout for sapphire the scale of a fingernail and to search out one this measurement is unreal,” he stated, revealing the gem has an estimated price of about $12,500.

“My response was disbelief and (we’re) completely stoked.

“For now we’ll preserve it as a specimen till we determine to promote it – or (get) a suggestion we won’t refuse.”

Betteridge uncovered the gem in Rubyvale, close to Emerald, which is without doubt one of the world’s largest sapphire-bearing areas.

He stated the heavy rain that is been bearing down on the east coast over the previous few months have made the sapphires simpler to search out.

Days earlier than he uncovered the 834 carat rock, he made one other spectacular discovery; a 359 carat sapphire.

On the time that was the largest sapphire he had discovered, however little did he know the file can be damaged days later.

Betteridge revealed what potential prospectors ought to look out for ought to they be tempted to attempt their luck on Queensland’s gemfields.

“You do get a watch for them ultimately.”