Amber is the fossilized resin from ancient forests. Amber is not produced
from tree sap, but rather from plant resin. Amber is the ancient resin
of trees. The resin has gone through a number of changes over millions
of years. The result of this metamorphosis is an exceptional gem with
extraordinary properties. It is exploited and used by both craftsmen and
scientist. Amber, which is in fact a fossil, is often held in the same
class as semi-precious stones such as turquoise and jade because of its
ornamental uses. Unlike these stones, amber is not mineralized. Rather,
it is simple the fossil of resin, or tree sap.
Although considered a gem, amber is a wholly-organic material derived
from the resin of extinct species of trees. In the dense forests of the
Middle Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, between 10 and 100 million years
ago, these resin-bearing trees fell and were carried by rivers to coastal
regions. There, the trees and their resins became covered with sediment,
and over millions of years the resin hardened into amber. Although many
amber deposits remain in ocean residue, geological events often repositioned
the amber elsewhere.
Amber as hign valued material
Amber has been a highly-valued material since earliest times. Worked
amber dating back to 11,000 B.C. has been found at archeological sites
in England. Amber was widely believed to have magical healing powers.
It was used to make varnish as long ago as 250 B.C., and powdered amber
was valued as incense. Amber was also traded throughout the world. By
identifying the type of amber used in ancient artifacts, scholars can
determine the geographical source of the amber and draw conclusions about
early trade routes.
What is the age of amber?
Most of the amber that exists today is between 30 and 90 million years
old. Resin that is only semi-fossilized is referred to as copal or sub-fossil
amber.
Origin of Baltic amber
Amber can be found on the shores of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
The main producer of amber worldwide is Russia. In fact about 90% of the
world’s available amber is located in the Kaliningrad region of
Russia, which is located on the Baltic. Here, amber is washed up on the
coast after being dislodged from the ocean floor by years of water and
ocean currents. Amber can also be found in the forests of Ukraine. Ukranian
amber, which is found within the marshy forest floor in the area surrounding
the Volhyn-Polesie border, is prized for its wide range of tones and colors.
What can be found in amber?
Leaves, flowers, insects, and small animals are frequently
found in amber. Older fossils trapped in this way often represent the
sole specimen of an extinct species. An especially rich bed of amber in
New Jersey has yielded over 100 previously unknown extinct Cretaceous
species dating back as much as 94 million years. Because of amber's preservative
qualities, the DNA of the specimens trapped inside is intact, affording
scientists a unique opportunity to study the DNA of extinct species.
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