Doorstop Rock Confirmed As 70 Million-Year-Old Amber Worth $1.1 Million

For years, a woman in southeastern Romania used a hefty 3.5-kilogram chunk of rock as a doorstop, unaware that it was a rare and valuable amber. Found in a stream bed near the village of Colti - a region famous for amber mining since the 1920s - this unassuming stone has now been identified as one of the largest intact pieces of amber ever discovered, with an estimated worth of $1.

1 million. Amber is a type of fossilised tree resin that forms over millions of years and is typically coloured yellow, orange, or brown in color with a smooth, glossy appearance. Amber has been used by humans for thousands of years, making it a valuable historical and cultural artifact.



Their unique properties allow them to preserve organic matter, such as insects, plants, and even DNA, for millions of years. This particular piece in question is reportedly rumanite, a type of amber known for its striking red shades, commonly found around Colti. After the woman’s death in 1991, a relative suspected the stone might be more than just a household tool and sold it to the Romanian government.

From there, it caught the attention of experts. ALSO SEE: US Man Arrested For Trip To Sentinel Island; CID Reveals He Planned To Offer Coconuts To Uncontacted Tribes Romanian authorities sent the amber to the Museum of History in Krakow, Poland, which specialises in semi-precious stones. Polish researchers, per El Pais, confirmed its authenticity and estimated it to be between 38.

5 and 70 million years old, a relic from a prehistoric forest. "Its discovery represents a great significance both at a scientific level and at a museum level," Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau reportedly said. What’s remarkable is how this treasure stayed hidden in plain sight.

Despite its worth, the amber escaped the notice of jewel thieves who targeted the area, as it quietly holding doors open for decades. ALSO SEE: IShowSpeed's Meeting With Chinese Donald Trump Goes Viral; Internet Calls Him 'Top US Diplomat'.