In March 2020, while fishing at a beach near his home, Mr. Li (from Orchid Island in Taiwan) stumbled upon a very large rock. The rock was black, weighed several kilograms, and had a distinctive, faint fragrance.
Curious, Mr. Li took the rock home and photographed it, sending the pictures to his friends. One friend suggested that the rock "smelled" fragrant and might be ambergris. This friend advised him to consult an expert to verify its authenticity.
Later, Mr. Li contacted Kaohsiung National University to ask them to help examine the rock he had found. He took a small sample from the rock and sent it to the university.
A few days later, Cheng Shi-Yie, an associate professor of life sciences at the university, confirmed that the rock Li had found was ambergris. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology, scientists confirmed that this black stone was a rare treasure.
Ambergris is a gray, waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. (Photo: Taiwan News)
Ambergris is a gray, waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Many whale species worldwide produce ambergris, but only male sperm whales produce it. However, to date, researchers have not conducted a comprehensive study on the formation process of ambergris.
Ambergris was once used in the perfume industry, but today it has been largely replaced by synthetic materials and is only used in a few expensive perfumes.
Ambergris is typically found in chunks or lumps of various sizes and shapes. Its weight ranges from 15 grams to 50 kilograms or even larger. But what makes ambergris so valuable is that it contains a multitude of different scents, like a bundle of 20-30 compounds, each with its own distinct aroma.
Ambergris is considered a "treasure" of the sea and fetches very high prices on the market. The international market price for one kilogram of ambergris is approximately $50,000. Therefore, the ambergris that Mr. Li found is worth up to $210,000 (over 5 billion VND).
Mr. Li was delighted with this "heavenly" gift. He said he would sell the ambergris and use the proceeds to support his family.
Quoc Thai (Source: Taiwan News)
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