What is it

[Jimvt123]

Found on the beach. It's lighter than a rock, and the black does not come off

 

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[Mud Hut]

What part of world is it from?

 

[pepperj]

From the camp fire a melted can.

 

[bradyboy]

volcanic?
brady

 

[randazzo1]

My cousin found some like that and ended up selling it for sever hundred dollars. It was grey ambergris from a whale. Not saying that’s what you have, but worth checking out online and doing a comparison. It looks more like weathered wood to me - I think I see growth rings

 

[Plug N Play]

Scoria (beach abraded)

 

[dozer dan]

My cousin found some like that and ended up selling it for sever hundred dollars. It was grey ambergris from a whale. Not saying that’s what you have, but worth checking out online and doing a comparison. It looks more like weathered wood to me - I think I see growth rings

If I’m not mistaken, the bunny huggers have gotten a law passed that made it illegal to sell ambergris now.

 

[Tpmetal]

If I’m not mistaken, the bunny huggers have gotten a law passed that made it illegal to sell ambergris now.

wait why? you don't harm the animal or enviornment by gathering it?

 

[xr7ator]

I also think melted aluminum.

 

[Red-Coat]

If I’m not mistaken, the bunny huggers have gotten a law passed that made it illegal to sell ambergris now.

wait why? you don't harm the animal or enviornment by gathering it?

I'm sure this is not ambergris, but you're correct about the legal situation in the US, although it varies from country to country.

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) classifies ambergris as an excretory byproduct, like urine or faeces, and so sees no need for it to be covered under the Convention (unlike other physical parts of the sperm whale or pygmy sperm whale, which are the only species known to produce ambergris). The countries of the European Union, and also the UK, adopt this position and it is therefore perfectly legal to collect it from beaches and sell it or trade in it.

In the US, sperm whales and pygmy sperm whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which prohibits the use of any product from an endangered species. There is no specific exemption for ambergris so (although some still regard this as an area untested in court) it’s illegal to collect it, possess it or trade in it. The only exception is for scientific research (with a permit) but ambergris cannot be bought or sold.

Australia takes a similar view to the US but and regulates ambergris under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999. Permits may be issued for collection under some circumstances (varies by state) but finds must be reported to the state environment authority, import or export is controlled by certification, and trade is restricted.