Villagers claim of rare stone find

Resource geologists and exploration will confirm a claim of findings in a cave at Korowaiwai at Nakorotubu in Ra.

Some Nalidi villagers in Nakorotubu, Ra, revealed their excitement on social media after claiming that they found different stones in the Nalari cave.

Nalidi is in the highlands in the interior of Nakorotubu and lies on the border of Ra and Tailevu.

Inoke Turaga, a villager said Nalidi means spark the world (lidiki vuravura).

Mr Turaga, who posted on social media and visited the site, said the tales of the rare stones had been passed down their lineage for generations.

“Our prophets prophesied that this precious stone will reveal itself in its anointed time and rivers of oil will be found underneath. Now, in God’s time, this precious stone has been unveiled. We discovered them. God have His time to reveal these different precious stones and gemstones, he said.

A rare stone found inside the Nalari Cave.

Inoke Turaga

Mineral Resources Department acting director Apete Soro said their geologists would visit the site.

I will revert with detail to your question once it has been updated by our geologist, exploration and resource geologist, Mr Soro said.