France discovers mega JACKPOT worth Rs…, not gold, diamonds, oil, the treasure is…; keeps location secret due to…

In a major discovery, France has uncovered a massive deposit of rare earth minerals estimated to be worth billions of euros. As per reports, the discovery was made in Saint-Agnès, a humble agricultural village in metropolitan France famous for its wheat produce and vast sunflower fields.

Rare earth minerals found in French village

According to reports, Marc Dubois, a local farmer, was working his land when his tractor hit something hard while tilling the fields. Dubois informed local authorities, who called in experts and sparking fragments, later identified as rare earth elements, were found beneath the land.

Geologists have been stunned by the find as Saint-Agnès and its surrounding regions are viewed as prime farmland, primarily known for their agriculture. But following the discovery, the once sleepy little village has garnered widespread attention from the government, geologists, and multinational mining, who are making further surveys to hunt for more deposits in the area.

According to experts, the presence of rare earth elements in the area, previously thought to be geographically “bland”, is highly unusual, and begs the reassessment of France’s mineral resources, especially in similar regions.

Exact location classified

Meanwhile, the French government has classified the exact location of the deposit, citing security reasons, and economic sensitivity of the find, which is being hailed as one of the most “economically significant” discoveries in the country’s recent history. As per reports, several major mining giants have already expressed interest, promising investment, infrastructure, and employment, that has drawn more attention to the site.

Marc Dubois, the farmer on whose land the discovery was made, said the day of the find was “a day like any other”, but quickly turned almost magical as something so rare was found beneath his  family farm, which has now taken centerstage in a national debate over land use, heritage preservation, and industrial development.

Major boost to French economy

Experts believe that the discovery could provide a significant boost to the French economy as rare earth elements are one of the most expensive materials on the planet due to the widespread use in the manufacture of modern gadgets including smartphones, electric vehicles, as well as wind turbines, and advanced military systems.

Notably, earlier this month, France also discovered the world’s largest reserve of natural hydrogen, valued at around $92 billion (Rs 786,881 crore). According to a report by Interesting Engineering, French scientists discovered a massive reserve of natural hydrogen below the soil in Folschviller, a region in the Moselle department.

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