Michel Dupont was taking a walk on his farm in France when he spotted a glimmer in the water. Upon further investigation, he realised he had 150 tonnes of gold nuggets
A gobsmacked farmer stumbled upon a £3 billion bounty of gold right under his land – yet he won’t pocket any of the treasure.
Michel Dupont, 52, was walking along a stream on his farm when he spotted something in the water. Puzzled by the sparkle, Michel delved into the mystery.
Digging through the dirt, he excavated chunks of glinting gold. It soon became apparent that Michel could have found around 150 tonnes of gold nuggets.
Chatting with the Daily Galaxy, Michel recounted the extraordinary moment: “I was just doing a routine check of my land. Then I saw this strange shine in the mud. When I dug a little deeper, I couldn’t believe what I was holding in my hands.”
Authorities in France’s Auvergne region rapidly swooped in to prevent Michel from exploiting his find. The staggering discovery is now touted as one of France’s most significant recent finds, but with the gold in situ, Michel isn’t entitled to a share, reports Lagrada.
Now, if Michel wishes to mine his land, he’d need the go-ahead from the government, along with necessary technical and environmental evaluations. The legislation, often seen as an ecological safeguard, prioritises the wellbeing of sensitive ecosystems and spaces of natural importance.
Michel said he was “disappointed” that any plans to mine the land faced a roadblock but understood the local government wanted to show “caution”. He added: “They told me nothing can happen until all the tests are done.”
Michel says his life has been changed by the discovery. He has become an “open book” with people already scrambling to buy land nearby in a hope to get lucky”.
Opinions among Michel’s villagers are divided over the substantial discovery. Environmental activists worry about the potential repercussions of large-scale mining operations in the region.
Conversely, some locals see the find as an opportunity to rejuvenate their community, promising much-needed employment and economic growth. A conversation with a Lagarda inhabitant revealed a love for the area’s serene beauty: “We love our countryside for its tranquillity.”
This neighbour, concerned about the impact on the local way of life, voiced their unease: “‘I hope that all this will not disrupt our daily life.”
The situation echoes a contentious debate in French Guiana, where a significant gold find sparked a conflict between conservationists and capitalists. The venture, predicted to be France’s largest gold mine, was ultimately halted by environmental worries when the Bordeaux Administrative Court of Appeal ruled against it.
France’s record-breaking gold nugget, unearthed by shepherd Clément Trouillas circa 1889, tipped the scales at roughly 534grams.
He was reportedly lobbing stones at an animal in the hamlet of Les Avols when he felt something hefty, according to Goldmarkt. It was at this point he realised he had stumbled upon a nugget.