Lot 533
TERMITE COLONY AND TWIGS IN YOUNG COLOMBIAN AMBER. Amber is the fossilized tree resin. Some trees produce resins to help heal breaks and gashes. Occasionally insects become trapped in the sticky amber and are mummified (dessicated) with incredible preservation of soft tissues, muscles, microscopic detail and sometimes even color. DNA has been retrieved from amber over 65 million years old at the time of the dinosaurs. The age of amber itself cannot be determined. Only the rock it is deposited in can be tested. Colombian young amber is found mostly in the Andes mountains in remote regions and has not been properly dated. The amber with the classic golden honey color like Dominican Amber is probably between 1- 5 million years old. Such is the probable age of this extremely large, 6 x 4.5 x 4.5 inch clear amber nugget weighing almost 3 pounds (2.86lbs). This magnificent piece contains more than 100 termites, termite larvae, twigs, and even other insects such as millipedes and flies. There must have been a termite mound beneath this pine tree millions of years ago and a portion of the mound was covered and trapped in the sticky resin when the tree was injured This rich golden amber nugget is both beautiful and massive being one of the heaviest amber pieces ever auctioned.
Add $20 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $1,350 - 1,750.
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