fossil

Ambergris (Marine Coprolite/Subfossil)

Marine organic coprolite / Ambergris (Physeter macrocephalus metabolite)

Hardness: 1-2 (Mohs scale), Color: Olive green to waxy yellow-brown, Luster: Waxy to dull, Structure: Amorphous, Specific gravity: 0.780 to 0.926 (often floats in seawater).

Luster: Waxy to dull, Structure: Amorphous, Specific gravity: 0

Identified July 9, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 1-2 (Mohs scale), Color: Olive green to waxy yellow-brown, Luster: Waxy to dull, Structure: Amorphous, Specific gravity: 0.780 to 0.926 (often floats in seawater).

Formation & geological history

Formed in the digestive system of sperm whales as a reaction to indigestible squid beaks. It is aged by exposure to salt water and sunlight over decades, transforming from a pungent waste product into a sweet-smelling geological-grade waxy mass.

Uses & applications

Historically used in high-end perfumery as a fixative (allowing scents to last longer on the skin) and as a stabilizer in chemical fragrances.

Geological facts

Known as 'floating gold,' it is one of the few valuable geological substances produced by an animal. While often mistaken for sea glass or wax, it becomes pleasantly fragrant as it oxidizes through long-term exposure to the ocean.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the 'needle test': a hot needle should easily penetrate the surface and produce a black, odorous liquid and white smoke. Found washed up on beaches, particularly after storms in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.

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