Chris123 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hi, I've just joined. I've been looking for fossils at Barton-on-Sea and have found something I'll post later. I found a large lump of white fatty / waxy substance on the beach, fishy and slightly pooey smelling. Reasonably a solid lump but can be broken. Burns / melts over a match with a bit of sparking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyrannosaurusRex Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Pictures? It sounds like a sea cucumber egg sac. If that's the case do not touch it. The are highly toxic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seaforth Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Better still, be carefull with waxy/ fatty smelly stuff that you dont recognise. We (in Holland) also have 'strange stuff' washing up on our beaches from time to time and sometimes it is toxic stuff from more recent times!!! Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Ambergris? That would be nice, but I looked it up and it said gray in color. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Pictures? It sounds like a sea cucumber egg sac. If that's the case do not touch it. The are highly toxic. Some can be eaten: :http://www.kikumoto.co.jp/english/prd2.html Edited January 28, 2015 by Al Dente Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyrannosaurusRex Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Some can be eaten: :http://www.kikumoto.co.jp/english/prd2.html ewww... This one is from America. Those are from Asia? I heard of this story where there were about 30 dogs that just messed with them without eating them and were dead within 30 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyrannosaurusRex Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 http://www.ambergris.fr/identification_of_ambergris.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painshill Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Ambergris? That would be nice, but I looked it up and it said gray in color. That was my first reaction on seeing the title of the post. Our coastlines is not exactly renowned for ambergris and the occasional large finds have been on Atlantic-facing beaches, not on the South Coast. I would nevertheless recommend googling for pictures to see if what you have bears any resemblance because it’s a potentially valuable material. The odour you are describing is potentially characteristic of the material and it can be whitish in colour, depending on how long it has been in the ocean. Often the surface may be almost white with a darker interior. If it's gleaming white like a lump of lard... throw it back. Ambergris floats, will burn in the manner you describe and if you put a hot needle to it will melt to a dark liquid. Pending an identification, in the meantime (assuming you have salvaged it) wrap it in a cotton cloth but don't put it in a sealed container. Hang it in your garage on a piece of string if you can bear the smell... and keep it away from pets. Dogs love it! Edited January 28, 2015 by painshill Roger I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew);Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who [Rudyard Kipling] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris123 Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 I did wonder if it was ambergris that's why I brought it home! Pictures below: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painshill Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Well, I would say it's still possible. The question is, who you could take it to for confirmation. Does it pass the float test and the hot needle test? This link may help: http://www.askabiologist.org.uk/answers/viewtopic.php?id=9320 Roger I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew);Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who [Rudyard Kipling] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 It appears you have it in plastic. As painshill mentioned cotton cloth and not sealed in a container is best for storage, if it does turn out to be ambergris. Also be on the lookout for squid beaks! Have fun. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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