20 16 Three fishermen in Strook, Oman, Middle East found it? Floating gold? Long Xianxiang.

Traditionally, Long Xianxiang is regarded as the vomit of whales; Modern science says that this waxy substance is more like whale gallstones or whale feces.

Although it doesn't sound so beautiful, it is actually very valuable. The stone that these people stumbled upon weighed 176 pounds (80 kilograms) and was said to be worth nearly $3 million.

Why is it so valuable?

Long Xianxiang (from French phrase? Grey amber? ) is formed in the intestines of sperm whales.

Scientists found squid beaks in the jungle of Long Xianxiang, which led many people to guess that Long Xianxiang is a protective secretion, which can protect the digestive tract of sperm whales from being scratched by these hard beaks. Traditionally, scientists believe that whales spit out Long Xianxiang because they can't digest it; But now many scientists tend to think that Long Xianxiang is excreted like feces.

The only thing that can make Long Xianxiang is the sperm whale.

The smell of Long Xianxiang.

When the whale was first released from Long Xianxiang, it was soft and had a terrible smell. Some marine biologists compare it to dried cow dung.

But after floating in salt water for about ten years, this substance becomes hard, smooth, waxy and usually round. The smell of feces disappeared and was replaced by a smell that has been famous for hundreds of years or even longer. The longer it floats, the better it tastes.

Long Xianxiang is a mouth-watering ingredient of high-grade perfume.

In fact, is its taste described as silky, musk, earthy, sweet or simply? Hard to describe? . In addition to the unique smell, Long Xianxiang's important role is to help perfume smell adhere to the skin surface instead of evaporating quickly.

This is not the only place where it is famous in the world.

It is also considered as a homeopathic medicine and a high-end food condiment. In fact, around 65438+1960s, the first known ice cream formula used Long Xianxiang as seasoning! However, people who like to try new things, it is best to enjoy them quickly, because this ice cream smells lovely at first, like vanilla; But when it melts, it tastes like feces.

Long Xianxiang is a collector's project because it is in short supply.

No other whale can do it except the sperm whale; Even so, it is usually hidden somewhere in the middle of the ocean, so it must be a rare discovery.

Every few years, a small amount of Long Xianxiang may be washed up on the beach; However, the top is hidden in less than 5% of sperm whale carcasses, which is even harder to see.

But in some countries, including the United States, it is illegal to buy and sell these things under endangered species legislation. Of course, this will only make it more popular in some circles. Experts say that the current price in Long Xianxiang is $35 per gram, which of course depends on its quality; But legal issues may make it difficult to find buyers. In the long run, as of 5438+00 in June 2020, the price of one gram of gold is about 6 1 USD per gram. Call Long Xianxiang? Floating gold? It's not too much.

This illustration of 1845 comes from a lithograph, which depicts the various uses of whale by-products. In the picture, a woman buys Long Xianxiang perfume.

Looking for Long Xianxiang

Identifying Long Xianxiang is a difficult part, especially because it can be found in almost any coastal area.

Many times, when people go to an expert with a large piece of wax found on the beach, they must think that they have won the prize; But the identification results show that it is only the fossil remains of wax, rocks or animals.

So, how do we know if it is Long Xianxiang?

Long Xianxiang is white, gray, black or both. The most valuable color is pure white, or similar hue, because it is the oldest. It has a hard waxy texture and an unusual pleasant smell.

The least valuable is pure black Long Xianxiang, which smells like manure because it has just been discharged.

Besides, there is not much experience for reference when judging whether this substance is really Long Xianxiang. One thing to note is that the weight of Long Xianxiang should be very light, so if it is too heavy to hold easily (considering that it is a normal size), then it may not be Long Xianxiang.

Experts also introduced an experience, that is, you can do a needle test at home (insert a heated needle into a substance to see if it will turn into a tar-like liquid) to determine whether you have discovered Long Xianxiang. However, this kind of test is also misleading. If you are not familiar with the material, you may also make a wrong judgment on the results. Some substances commonly mistaken for Long Xianxiang include fat, degraded oil and mixed polymers, turpentine, amber and wax.

If you really think you have Long Xianxiang, the laboratory can make a decisive test.

Chemists will test the samples for benzoic acid and cholesterol. If the included value is an indicative component of Long Xianxiang, it is usually temporarily confirmed as Long Xianxiang. However, perfume companies usually conduct more chemical tests before buying.

However, according to insiders, the only way to identify Long Xianxiang clearly is to rely on experts who have rich experience in the appearance, feeling and smell of Long Xianxiang.