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Types of Amber
Amber can be classified by number of parameters such as
chemical composition, color and way of formation,
production method. The following classification is by
chemical composition:
Amber can be classified based on chemical composition usually into two
fossil resins: succinite and retinite. Succinite
is the common variety of European amber. Baltic amber or succinite was
once thought to be the only "true" amber and is the most suitable for
jewelry. Other fossil resins include gedanite, krantzite, beckerite,
stantienite, glessite, schraufite and delatynite. These fossil resins
are mostly devoid of inclusions and contain small amounts, if any,
succinic acid. Krantzite and gedanite are both rare varieties of Baltic
amber, that is they contain some succinic acid, but both have lower
hardness and other differing properties from Baltic amber or succinite.
Retinite Amber
This is less tough than Baltic amber and does not contain succinic acid.
Important sources of retinite include the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
As retinite contains no succinic acid; it is primarily of Tertiary
(Oligocene) age. When exposed to UV light, all Dominican amber will
fluorescent blue or green shades.
Gedanite, or Brittle Amber
This is found with Baltic amber and it is thought to be resin from an
extinct white pine species closely. Though it closely resembles
succinite but it is much more brittle, not quite so hard, with a lower
melting point and containing no succinic acid. It is often covered with
a white powder easily removed by wiping. The name comes from Gedanum,
the Latin name of Gdańsk at the Baltic Sea. It was first found near
Gdansk, which is now in Poland but was then called Gedania.
Krantzite
This is a soft red amber-like resin, found in the lignites of Saxony.
Beckerite
This is a rare amber in earthy-brown nodules, almost opaque, said to be
related in properties to gutta-percha (gutta-percha is a genus of
tropical trees native to southeast Asia and northern Australasia, from
Taiwan south to Malaya and east to the Solomon Islands. It is also
inelastic natural latex produced from the sap of these trees,
particularly from the species Palaquium gutta. Chemically, gutta-percha
is a polyterpene, a polymer of isoprene (trans-1,4-polyisoprene).).
Beckerite is also found with Baltic amber, though nicknamed "brown
resin".
Stantienite
This is a brittle, deep brownish-black resin, destitute of succinic
acid. Stantienite resembles beckerite in color but due to complete
opacity it is termed "black resin". These two types of amber are named
for Becker and Stantien, two developers of amber dredging and mining
operations in the Samland region in the 1800s.
Glessite
This is a nearly opaque brown dark resin, with numerous microscopic
cavities and dusty enclosures, named from glesum, an old name for amber.
Allingite
This is a fossil resin allied to succinite, from Switzerland.
Roumanite or Romanian Amber
This amber is a dark reddish resin, occurring with lignite in Tertiary
deposits. The nodules are penetrated by cracks, but the material can be
worked on the lathe. Sulphur is present to the extent of more than 1%,
whence the smell of sulphuretted hydrogen when the resin is heated.
According to Gheorghe Murgoci the Romanian amber is true succinite.
Simetite or Sicilian Amber
This is named after the river Simeto or Giaretta. It occurs in lower
Miocene deposits and is also found washed up by the sea near Catania.
This beautiful material presents a great diversity of tints, but a rich
hyacinth red is common. It is remarkable for its fluorescence, which in
the opinion of some authorities adds to its beauty. Amber is also found
in many localities in Emilia, especially near the sulphur-mines of
Cesena. It has been conjectured that the ancient Etruscan ornaments in
amber were wrought in the Italian material, but it seems that amber from
the Baltic reached the Etruscans at Hatria. It has even been supposed
that amber passed from Sicily to northern Europe in early times - a
supposition said to receive some support from the fact that much of the
amber dug up in Denmark is red; but it must not be forgotten that
reddish amber is found also on the Baltic, though not being fashionable
it is used rather for varnish-making than for ornaments. Moreover,
yellow amber after long burial is apt to acquire a reddish color. The
amber of Sicily seems not to have been recognized in ancient times, for
it is not mentioned by local authorities like Diodorus Siculus (a
Greek historian 90 BC to 30BC).
Burmite Amber
is the name under which the Burmese amber is now described. Until the
British occupation of Burma but little was known as to its occurrence,
though it had been worked for centuries and was highly valued by the
natives and by the Chinese. It is found in fiat rolled pieces,
irregularly distributed through blue clay probably of Miocene age. It
occurs in the Hukawng valley, in the Nangotaimaw hills, where it is
irregularly worked in shallow pits. The mines were visited some years
ago by Dr Fritz Noetling, and the mineral has been described by Dr Otto
Helm. The Burmese amber is yellow or reddish, some being of ruby tint,
and like the Sicilian amber it is fluorescent. Burmite and simetite
agree also in being destitute of succinic acid. Most of the Burmese
amber is worked at Mandalay into rosary-beads and ear-cylinders.
Other Amber Types
Many other fossil resins more or less allied to amber have been
described. Schraufite is a reddish resin from the Carpathian sandstone,
and it occurs with jet (lignite) in the Cretaceous rocks of the Lebanon;
ambrite is a resin found in many of the coals of New Zealand; retinite
occurs in the lignite of Bovey Tracey in Devonshire and elsewhere;
whilst copaline has been found in the London Clay of Highgate in North
London. Chemawinite or cedarite is an amber-like resin from the
Saskatchewan river in Canada.
Amber Inclusions: Pieces of Ancient History!
The preservation of ancient life in amber has fascinated
civilization through ages and this mystical phenomenon still attracts
people to get to know more about amber and even and hold in hand and
wear - a piece of history that is so ancient. Amber is really an
exquisite preservation of ancient life within its golden tomb. Perhaps
amber was an inspiration for the Pharaohs to build the Great Pyramids?
Read
more...
History of Amber
Amber has a long history since the ancient times. Most
older and previously discovered amber deposits were in
Europe and you will still see today ho widely amber is
used and cherished in Europe. Amber has been traded
since earliest times and was considered a mystic and
religious material. Over the "amber routes" it was
distributed throughout Europe and to the entire known
ancient world... Read
more...
Back to 'All About Amber' Summary
Commonly referred to as tree sap, however amber is anything but sap! The
modern name for amber is thought to come from the Arabic word, amber,
meaning ambergris. In our "All About Amber" page, we have attempted to
provide interesting and useful information about what is amber, where it
comes from, the types of amber, amber fossil, how to tell fake from real
amber etc. It is important to know some easy tips to recognize amber
because not getting real amber could make a difference of few million
years! Visit these topics and enjoy reading on...
Read more...
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Various Types of Amber
