Colombian Copal (Sediments South of Cerrejón Coal Mine, Indeterminate Age [~60 Ma-Recent])

This specimen weighs 8.5g and measures 34x29x20mm. It contains several dual-phase bubbles (some with mobile gas bubbles), with one being quite large; a translucent layer surrounds most of the chambers. The piece originated from the La Guajira Department of Colombia, and was recovered from deposits/diggings several miles south of the Cerrejón Coal Mine; the depth(s) of these diggings, and the copal-bearing sediments' geological age are unknown, though some sources claim it comes from the same Paleocene strata found in the Cerrejón mine to the north. Still, this material reacts quite readily to acetone and other mild solvents, and cannot be considered to have undergone substantial polymerization (i.e., it is not a mature fossil resin).