The reddish “rock” a woman in Colți, Romania, reportedly used as a doorstop for decades was identified as a 3.5-kilogram piece of amber. News reports put its estimated value at €1 million—about $1.1 million in ZME Science’s 2025 conversion—but that figure is not a confirmed sale price.
What was the “rock” used as a doorstop?
It was a large nugget of amber, not an ordinary stone. Euronews reported in 2025 that the woman found it in a stream bed in southeastern Romania and used it to hold a door open for decades. The specimen is associated with Romanian rumanite, also called Buzău amber, a regional amber known for reddish tones. ZME Science reported that this particular piece has no inclusions, so it should not be pictured as containing preserved insects or other organisms. Euronews; ZME Science
How was it identified?
According to Euronews, the woman died in 1991 and a relative who inherited her property noticed the unusual object and arranged for it to be examined. Reporting says the Romanian state acquired it and sent it to specialists at the Museum of History in Kraków, Poland. ZME Science says Polish researchers confirmed it was authentic amber and estimated its age at 38.5–70 million years. Euronews gives a rounded range of 38–70 million years. These are reported findings, not a publicly available appraisal or catalog record. Euronews; ZME Science
Was it really worth $1.1 million?
That is a reported valuation, not evidence that someone paid that amount. Euronews described the estimated value as approximately €1 million in 2025. ZME Science reported the same euro estimate and converted it to about $1.1 million. The available coverage does not provide a public transaction record or an appraisal document explaining how the estimate was calculated. It is therefore accurate to say the amber was estimated or reported to be worth that amount—not that it sold for $1.1 million. Euronews; ZME Science
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- Exquisite Natural Beauty – Discover the charm of our amber gemstone set, which includes 8 large, beautifully crafted pieces in four stunning colors: blue, red, green, and golden yellow. Each color includes two pieces, making it a perfect choice for collectors and admirers of timeless natural beauty.
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Where is the amber now?
ZME Science reports that the specimen was returned to the Buzău Museum in 2022 and is held by the Provincial Museum of Buzău. That is distinct from the Buzău County Museum’s Amber Museum in Colți. The Colți museum provides regional context: the European Museum Academy describes its collection as including amber in raw, processed and ornamental forms, and its interpretation of the area’s extraction history. The Colți museum should not be confused with the reported home of this particular nugget. ZME Science; European Museum Academy report
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- Black Amber-Genuine Petrified fossilized tree sap from Sumatra, Indonesia 4 oz Bag
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- good assorted Size mix.. 1" - 2" inch min. on all sides
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