A LEGAL wrangle is brewing between the government and scrap metal hunters who claim to be the rightful owners of a copper stone discovered in an abandoned mine in Musina, Limpopo.

Five scrap metal hunters said they found the stone under a foundation and want the government to help them make a fortune out of it.

Two other claimants have since asked the police to return the copper stone to them, while the government insists it owns the mineral rights to the mine.

Trust Bere's and his fellow diggers' joy turned sour after police confiscated it.

A letter of demand has been served on the government seeking the release of the stone.

Department of Minerals spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said they were investigating mining rights in the area before deciding on the treasure.