2 Large Meliponine Bees, Enhydros in Colombian Copal Amber Fossil Rain Forest

Description

Recent studies (as of the beginning of 2016) have reported the findings of stellate oak hairs in this material.
Since stellate hairs are considered to be associated with Baltic ambers in particular, and knowing Baltic material is dated as between 30 and 50 million years old, it is possible that some Colombian material is indeed truly amber, not subfossil resin copal.
Also, stellate hairs are noted in Dominican and Chiapas ambers which are known to be between 17 and 25 million years old.
While not definitive proof of some fossil resin from Colombia as being true amber, it does suggest this material could be much older than the few hundred or a few thousand years of age some claim it to be.
This is a fully polished piece of Colombian copal amber that contains two large bees that appear to have been interacting in some way prior to their death. Perhaps they were fighting? These bees belong to the Family Meliponinae and are around the size of a honeybee.
It is very rare to find such a large, well-preserved bees in an amber fossil. The bees would have most likely been strong enough to escape the sticky tree resin that entombed them.
With the bees are two Phorid flies and a group of enhydros (ancient water bubbles with trapped, moving air bubbles).
The piece itself weighs 5.4 grams and has approximate dimensions of 20 mm length, 17 mm width, and 15 mm height. NOTE: 25 mm is approximately one inch.
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For your information:
Copal differs from fossil amber in both its age and its hardness:  copal being younger and softer with amber being older and harder.  Copal is also typically lighter in color than amber, but this does not take away from its natural beauty nor
its potential scientific value
.
In fact, an article published in September 2007 described a new species of orchid bee that was not known to exist previously.
The age of this copal has been a matter of discussion for years, and I still see no one's finds being well-accepted.
Inclusions are often superbly preserved!
Major copal deposits can be found in Colombia, South America and the island of Madagascar off the eastern coast of Africa.  Some believe that Colombian fossil resin is in fact amber, I hold to the belief that it is not amber but is indeed copal (baby or young amber).
The copal I am offering here comes from a mine in Puerto Nariño, Cordoba, COLOMBIA which is known for its rich yellow color.
The piece itself weighs 5.4 grams (around 25 carats).
I will combine items for up to 7 days to save on shipping costs.
Do kindly see my other listings consisting mainly of authentic, fossiliferous Dominican and  Burmese (Burmite) amber, Indonesian ambers at low starting bid auctions or "Buy It Now/Best Offer
"
prices.
International Buyers: Please note that I ship using First Class Mail International.
A SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
: Please understand that import duties, taxes and charges are NOT included in the selling price or shipping charges.  These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Please check your country's customs office to determine what these additional charges may be prior to bidding/buying.
I cannot guarantee delivery of your item in a set amount of time.  Different country's customs offices take longer to process items than others do.
Lastly, I do not mark merchandise values below their true value or mark items as "gifts."  U.S. and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.  Honesty is the best option.
This piece could be used as a specimen or in a piece of jewelry. Thank you for your consideration.  This item will ship worldwide at .00 U.S.
I will combine items to save on shipping for up to a 7 day period and usually ship within 1 business day
.
Please note that the saltwater test to identify real from fake amber is not reliable. The saltwater test claims that real amber will float in saltwater while fake amber will sink.
However, many amber sources or even specimens will not float in saltwater as their botanical (plant) composition as well as fossil inclusions are such that they are more dense than saltwater and so sink. I do not sell fake amber. My feedback should help demonstrate this.