What does unrefined amber look like?

Amber is the fossilized resin of coniferous trees that has lain in the ground for tens of millions of years. Discussing its meaning for humans.

Description

Amber is the fossilized resin of coniferous trees that has lain in the ground for tens of millions of years. When discussing its significance for humans, the majority of people would say that it is a beautiful ornamental material, but in some regions of its mass production, local residents do not at all consider this resource to be something particularly valuable and sometimes even use it instead of rosin for soldering. However, in Russia amber is often called “the gold of the Baltic” – this poetic term describes both what the substance looks like and how those who have not encountered it in everyday life relate to it. This stone consists of a good 70% carbon, the rest of the mass is approximately equal in proportions to hydrogen and oxygen. Since in the original this substance is of organic origin, its formula is, of course, more complicated – it also contains sulfur, nitrogen and ash. This stone is not particularly hard: even if you can’t pick it up with your bare hands, it can be polished without any problems. Friction causes the pebble to become electrified, acquiring a negative charge. At room temperature, amber is a solid substance, but when it reaches a temperature of 150 degrees, it begins to gradually soften. The melting point of the substance is not precisely determined and is about 280-320 degrees. Any variety of this stone is highly flammable. The diversity and uncertainty of many of the characteristics of amber are caused by the fact that it changes under the influence of external forces. First of all, it oxidizes in the open air, reacting with oxygen, which is why it becomes brittle and can change color and chemical composition. In addition, the initial data can also change – the properties of the stone depend on what tree the resin was from and how long it was stored in the ground.

History of origin

The origin of amber has long been shrouded in legends, because it is rare to see a stone that does not produce crystals, burns in fire and melts near it. The etymology of the name of such a substance in different languages ​​says a lot about where amber became known in a particular country and what the locals thought about it. If we turn not to legends, but to history, it turns out that this stone has been used for the manufacture of various products for several thousand years. In the same Baltics, rings, buttons and many other useful things were made from amber back in Neolithic times. Interestingly, the crown of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose age reaches almost 3,5 thousand years, is decorated, among other jewelry, with amber – scientists believe that it was brought precisely from the shores of the Baltic Sea. Already in those days, a full-fledged trade in this unusual stone was established in the Mediterranean region. On the eastern and southern coasts of the Baltic Sea, amber processing was a popular folk craft for several millennia, until in the 13th century the Teutonic Order, which reigned here, decided that this was too valuable a raw material to allow anyone to trade it. Since then, the processing of such stones became a state matter, special serfs were engaged in the collection, and processing at home was prohibited – all raw materials were purposefully exported to other cities. The exclusive right to trade such goods had to be obtained from the state, so folk crafts subsided for a long time.

Field

At the dawn of civilization, the main European source of amber was a deposit in what is now Denmark, but it was exhausted in ancient times. Already in the ancient Roman period, the main region for the extraction of amber gems could already be considered the Amber Coast in the Baltic States, located today in the Kaliningrad region of Russia, as well as in neighboring Lithuania and Latvia. It is generally accepted that today up to 90% of all deposits of this stone are concentrated here, and there is also a one-of-a-kind amber plant that mines such gems. There is also quite a lot of amber in Ukrainian Polesie. Local Rivne amber is also quite widely known. The local deposits belong to the Baltic-Dnieper subprovince of the Euro-Asian amber-bearing province, so the “gifts of the Sun” here are echoes of the neighboring Baltic states.

Colors and varieties

The widespread belief that amber comes in purely yellow shades is fundamentally wrong – modern experts identify as many as four hundred different colors. Yellow and orange species are simply noticeably more common, which is why all these poetic epithets about the “gifts of the Sun” refer to them. At the same time, you need to understand that the relatively high prevalence reduces the demand for such a stone – a gem of any atypical shade is more valuable. At the same time, it would be foolish to evaluate a piece of amber purely by its color – the cost is determined by its size, the skill of processing, and, especially, the presence of inclusions. The three most popular colors include milky white amber, but it is interesting that the substance itself is not white. This color is only a visual effect; it’s just that in the thickness of the yellowish tint there are abundant inclusions of air and water bubbles, which give the stone a whitish color. In some specimens, these opacities are detected only on the outside, since there is practically no transparency – such a specimen is called landscape. It doesn’t always look really beautiful, but sometimes a properly polished bead greatly resembles one of the planets of the solar system. If you want to find a truly exclusive specimen, focus on amber in which a certain prehistoric insect is frozen. It is quite difficult to obtain such a specimen, because it is very rare, and scientists, museums and the powers that be are hunting for it.

Materials

Like any other material known since ancient times and considered expensive, amber is surrounded by many legends. Due to this, magical and healing properties were attributed to it in different eras. Some of them were confirmed, others remained unproven, but only the owner of the stone decides what to believe and what not.

Magic

• calms and warms, literally penetrating the soul;
• constantly stored somewhere in a box, it protects the home from criminals and natural disasters;
• helps expectant mothers give birth without complications, and ensures the health of the baby for those who have already had a baby;
• guarantees a good mood if you constantly wear it on yourself, while a large piece can simply be squeezed in your hand to receive a powerful charge of positivity;
• helps preserve women’s youth;
• drives away bad thoughts and night thoughts if you put it under the pillow in advance – however, it is only suitable for this purpose in its raw form;
• cleanses and clarifies both body and soul;
• helps its owner survive any, even the most severe, grief.

Treatment

In ancient times, it was generally accepted that the healing properties of amber were universal, that is, they would be useful in any situation and for any illness of any nature. Ancient healers found many benefits in the use of this stone, without thinking about how it healed, but sincerely believing that not a single disease could resist the influence of such a drug.

By the way, some beneficial properties of this substance have been proven today, and traditional medicine has continued to use it all this time, without the need for any evidence.

It is generally accepted that constantly wearing an amber bracelet helps speed up metabolism and helps cleanse the body of everything unnecessary. By this logic, such an accessory will definitely be useful to a person who keeps himself in shape or wants to lose weight.

Modern pharmacies sell succinic acid. This is a biostimulant of natural origin, which in terms of efficiency can compete with popular energy drinks, the dangers of which have already been written about a lot. A similar drug is sometimes recommended for use by people engaged in intense mental work.

Fine amber chips are used by many pharmaceutical companies in the drug production process. For example, a tincture of such an unusual ingredient is considered very effective in the fight against various pulmonary diseases and colds.

The smoke released during the burning of amber contains all the same beneficial substances as the tincture described above. For this reason, amber inhalations, if you find a pebble and do not regret burning it, can also be useful

To whom does

Amber is very popular among women as a beautiful and stylish decoration, especially since for many men it is not a big problem to buy it – this gem, which is also not very cheap, falls significantly short of real precious stones. At the same time, representatives of the fairer sex are often interested in astrology and strive to select jewelry in accordance with the rules of this science. Then they should know that the “sun stone” is best suited for the zodiac signs whose element is fire – these are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Since this stone is in any case positive, the same esotericists note the possibility of wearing it for representatives of absolutely any zodiac sign. For some reason, only Taurus is offended by the favor of the “gold of the Baltic” – it’s not that he is forbidden to wear amber jewelry, it’s just that the esoteric effect from it will rush to zero. If for active representatives of fire signs this stone can be an excellent additional stimulant, then for earth signs wearing it can result in a further aggravation of indifference.

Air and water signs can wear such jewelry both for beauty and for a certain healing effect.

How to distinguish from a fake?

There is not enough real amber for everyone, so today, as is the case with many other stones, there is artificial amber. Outwardly, it is really similar, but sellers are not always in a hurry to inform the buyer that this is a fake, and demand the same amount for a piece of plastic as for a natural stone. Naturally, modern trinkets do not have any special properties, so you need to know the differences between amber and any other materials so as not to become a victim of scammers.

Insertion of air bubbles in prehistoric resin is normal, but, as a rule, there should not be many of them. In the industrial production of inexpensive artificial amber, manufacturers usually do not worry about purchasing an expensive sealed stirrer with an air suction function, so there will be especially many such bubbles in a fake.

A perfectly even tone of amber beads is a clear sign of falsification of the product. At a minimum, nature should not have planned it this way, because amber is not a living creature and does not need to camouflage itself from anyone. Therefore, most pieces of this stone, which are not free of foreign impurities, have a characteristic smokiness. For a manufacturer of a cheap product, drawing complex and unique patterns is an unnecessary task, and this can help in catching a fraudster.

Amber is of organic origin and has the amazing property of retaining heat. It, unlike plastic, is never cold – that’s why it’s a sun stone. Despite the fact that this substance is relatively soft, it will still not be possible to scratch it with a fingernail. If you accidentally “ruined” the product for the seller by trying to scratch it with your fingernail and leaving a clearly visible scratch, then there can be no question of naturalness.

Real natural stone weighs surprisingly little, so even massive-looking beads in your hand will feel surprisingly light. With plastic, and even more so with glass, the difference will be very obvious – they will be much heavier and will cause some discomfort when worn. To distinguish an original from a fake by this criterion, preliminary experience of wearing proven amber is desirable – then you will definitely not be mistaken in what is offered to you.

Despite the fact that the gem has lain in the ground for tens of millions of years, in essence it remains the same pine resin that it was originally.

Application

Most often, amber is used in jewelry and for making souvenirs. In the latter case, both raw and pressed or melted versions of the gift may be suitable. Processing masters make real miracles from amber – figurines, paintings, icons and much more.

In industry, this stone has found particular use in industries such as pharmaceuticals, perfumes, the food industry, as well as for the production of sandpaper and some varnishes – for example, they coat the famous Stradivarius violins. In the old days, amber could be used as an electrical insulator.

Care

The difficulty of handling amber is that, being of natural origin, it tends to age quickly, causing it to become cloudy and brittle. Here are a few subtleties on how to maximize the life of your favorite jewelry:

• amber does not like either heat or cold, and suffers especially severely during sudden temperature changes;
• perfumes and any household chemicals can harm amber jewelry; even a tiny drop of perfume can harm the stone;
• this gem is not very durable; even a relatively weak blow can break it;
• due to the softness of the material and its dislike of detergents, it is extremely undesirable to touch the product with dirty hands; fat is especially dangerous for amber;
• “Sun stone” strangely cannot be stored for a long time under the sun’s rays – a dark box is better for this, but sometimes it is simply necessary to “recharge” it, otherwise it will fade;
• fresh air provokes oxidation of the surface of the pebble, due to which it becomes fragile and may become covered with cracks;
• amber, unlike many other stones, is never stored in bags – the fabric is not able to protect the nugget from impact and splitting;
• for the reason described above, amber products are never stored together; a separate box is chosen for each;
• The best cleaning method is regular wiping with a dry soft flannel or woolen cloth after each wearing of jewelry;
• if you wash amber, then only in cold or lukewarm water; the only additives allowed are ammonia, but the use of soap is prohibited;
• Ideally, the pebble is cleaned with special means, but if they are not available, you can soak it in a salted aqueous solution;
• After washing, the product must be wiped dry and polished with the addition of olive oil.

Gold is a precious metal that will never lose its relevance. It is from it that the largest number of jewelry is made, and gold products are the most popular among buyers. However, today you can find a large number of fakes.

The word “emerald” comes from the Greek “smaragd” and means “green stone”. The color green has always been the personification of life and beauty for many peoples. In ancient Rome, this color was the color of the gods. Green is the color of Islam.

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The presence of natural irregularities and inclusions is allowed in the stone.
You are purchasing exactly the sample shown in the photographs.

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AMBER – fossil resin of coniferous plants of the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. Unique amber formations are equated to precious stones.

Syngony: Absent (amorphous)
Composition (formula): C – 78%, H – 10%, O – 11%

Color: Yellow, wax yellow, honey yellow, white, red-brown, brown, red-brown. Occasionally blue, green, black.
The primary color of amber is determined by three factors: structural, light scattering in amber, various inclusions; secondary – by the processes of amber weathering.

Trait Color: White
Transparency: Opaque, translucent, transparent
Cleavage: Very imperfect (absent)
Fracture: Conchoidal
Gloss: Oily, matte, resinous
Hardness: 2-2,5
Density (specific gravity), g/cm 3 : 1,0-1,1 to 1,22 in weathered amber of the Carpathian region
Brittleness: Brittle

Special properties: Amber is amorphous, highly polished, electrified by friction, ignites from the flame of a match, and swells in water.
Sometimes representatives of insects or arachnids are found in amber, less often plants caught in the resin during the period of its formation. In addition to solid inclusions, gas-liquid ones are found in amber.
In air, amber oxidizes relatively quickly – within a year, a change in color (darkening) is noticeable on its polished surface.
Some amber samples can fluoresce under ultraviolet light; triboluminesce (this property is not expressed in Baltic and Ukrainian amber) and exhibit a cat’s eye effect (shatoyansi).
When heated without air access to 140-150°C, amber becomes plastic. Technological methods for its processing – calcination and pressing – are based on this property. When calcined, clouded amber becomes transparent, and during the pressing process, amber crumbs turn into blanks of any shape.

Since ancient times, amber has been refined: clarified and colored. Pliny the Elder (23-79) recommended clarifying amber with the fat of a young pig. When boiled, the fat filled the bubbles (gas inclusions), and the ability of amber to transmit light increased. Also, cloudy amber was clarified by boiling in linseed and rapeseed oil. The clouded amber was clarified using dry calcination – heated in sand at temperatures above 100°C. As a result of clearing, semicircular cracks often appeared in the amber, resembling fish scales in appearance. The most common of the imitations is pressed amber, aka ambroid, which has been produced in large quantities since 1881. In it, under a magnifying glass, flow textures with elongated gas bubbles and streaks are visible. In long-wave ultraviolet light, bright milky-white luminescence is observed. Modern natural soft resins similar to amber in properties – cowrie и copal – they are distinguished by their fusibility and solubility in ether, so they are used with the addition of amber or after special treatment. A common imitation of amber is synthetic resins – plastics. The oldest of them, celluloid, also known as ancient amber, is rarely used today due to its easy flammability; Its safe varieties – cellon and rhodoid – are more widely used. Casein plastics such as galalite and erinoid are also used. But the most widely used are heat-stable plastics such as Bakelite (for example, red Bakelite), polyester resins such as Polyburn with inclusions of insects and plants, as well as colored polystyrene with pressed pieces of natural amber. Glass and tortoiseshell are two more materials for imitating amber stone.

The morphology of amber is a form of resin that flows from trees and drips onto the ground. Amber forms massive aggregates of irregular or teardrop shape; nodular, round, kidney-shaped sintered forms.
After erosion and redeposition, secondary sedimentary amber accumulates in placers in the form of fragments, usually well rounded.

Amber is found in sedimentary rocks. Some primary amber deposits are spatially associated with coal deposits.
When rocks are destroyed in places of primary formation (usually due to erosion), amber is transported and deposited in other places (placers). Given the profitability of industrial mining, these secondary amber deposits are called placer deposits.

Amber is used as an ornamental stone for making souvenirs, jewelry, and medicines.