what is amber?
Amber is an amorphous, hardened material made from a mixture of organic compounds including carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. More than 40 other compounds, including succinic acid, potassium, sodium, iron and others occur in Amber mixtures, and have combined over time with the preserved resin of ancient pine trees. Some types of Amber are found in the Earth, but others have been loosened from rocks or soil and are carried by the ocean to end up on or near the shoreline. The Baltic coast region bordering Germany, Poland, and Russia is an important Amber source. Artisans have used Amber for jewelry and ornaments for more than 10,000 years, and it is one of the first organic gem materials to be used by man. Amber is common and easy to carve, comes in a wide range of colors, and can be completely transparent to absolutely opaque. It is very lightweight with a density comparable to seawater, and is comfortable to wear.
how old is amber?
About 50 million years ago, the tree species Pinus succinifera grew in Northern Europe along with other pines that also produced resins that have transformed into Amber. During that time, the Earth’s climate warmed and caused these ancient trees to exude large amounts of resin. Baltic Amber, sometimes called Succinate, formed more than 45 million years ago, and all Amber has been preserved for more than one million years. Any preserved resin younger than that is known as Copal, and though these similar materials are related and have nearly identical origins, the main difference is their age.
is amber a fossil?
Amber is often referred to as fossilized resin, but true fossils form only when an animal or plant is buried in the earth and the organic remains are slowly replaced by elements from the mineral kingdom. The organic elements of Amber are not replaced by elements but instead are chemically transformed into a natural plastic or polymer. Amber is well known for having inclusions of trapped ancient insect and plant species that have been preserved within it, and for specimen collectors, an interesting plant species or animal inclusion can add significant value to a piece. Raw Amber occurs in a diverse range of forms and colors, including drops, icicles, drips and nuggets of various sizes.
