Amber Jewelry Blog...

Tuesday 22nd May 2012 02:20:10 AM •

Society: History: By Topic: Science

What is amber?

A common misconception with Amber is that it is tree sap; it is actually fossilised resin from ancient forests. The tree resin is exuded for a number of reasons such as protection for an injury to the tree, protection against biological or insect attack etc. The resin has then hardened and been preserved in the earths crust. Although Amber is regarded as a gem it is actually an organic substance that does not have the organic matter replaced by minerals. Pieces of amber are not cold and hard like most other gems. I have seen it described as 'organic plastic' to try and describe its weight and texture. Whilst I understand this description I think it takes away from the mystery and romance of this gem. Amber is also sometimes known as Succinite.

What are the different colours?

The huge variety of colours and the uniqueness of every piece is partly what makes this gem so popular. There are over 250 identified shades. The differing shades are due to the kind of tree the resin came from, the inclusions, the age of the amber and also the area in the world it comes from. Although amber deposits can be found all over the world there are only approximately 20 where it can be commercially mined.

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What are Inclusions in Amber

Inclusions are small objects which become embedded in the resin prior to it hardening and are part of what makes this gem truly fascinating. It was the very inclusion of a mosquito in a piece of amber that started the fictional theme park 'Jurassic Park' and it was at this point that Amber became more popular and fascinating to a wider audience in modern day. Because of this tree resin it means that anyone can own something that is millions of years old. This is part of its charm and romance.

A variety of small animals have been caught in these resin 'traps' such as fleas, ticks, millipedes and mosquitoes as well as items like seeds, roots, spores and Lichen. What I personally find the most fascinating are the ones that got away! Pieces of amber have been found with animal paw prints and have, on rare occasions, contained a few hairs or feathers from animals that have fled from its sticky clutches. All of these inclusions have enabled scientists to build an accurate picture of some of the plants and animals these forest contained and build more accurate pictures of earth in those times.

Amber From the Baltic.

The class of organic gemstones is quite small, but includes some unusual varieties which are important in the gem trade, including pearl, coral, ivory and amber. All the organic gems are rather unusual, but none more than amber. Amber is the fossilized hardened resin of the pine tree, Pinus succinifera, formed mainly in the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period, about 50 million years ago. Amber has been used since prehistoric times for jewelry, amulets and religious objects. The most prized pieces contain inclusions of insects or plants or pyrites.

Yellow, orange and brown are the most common colors for amber, though rare blue amber is found in the Dominican Republic. The term "amber" has entered the English language as the color that is halfway between yellow and orange. The clarity of natural amber ranges from transparent to opaque. Most pieces have bubbles or inclusions. When polished amber has a resinous luster.

Unlike most gemstones, amber is amorphous rather than crystalline. It is fairly soft, with a rating of 2-2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While it is durable enough to have survived for millions of years, it is sensitive to acids, caustic solutions, gasoline, alcohol and perfume. It will burn if ignited by a match, releasing an incense-like odor.

One of the most unique characteristics of amber is that it is exceptionally light. It has a density or specific gravity of only 1.05 to 1.09. Amber is so light that it will float in salt water. Amber's low density makes it difficult to imitate with glass or plastic, which have much higher densities. By way of comparison, the total volume of a 5 carat piece of amber is 2.5 times the volume of a 5 carat piece of zircon (one of the denser gem materials).
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What has Amber been used for?

Currently Amber is enjoying a resurgence in its popularity as a gem that can make truly unique and beautiful jewelry, but has had many varied uses in the past.

The Romans used it in coins amongst other things.
A variety of religious objects including rosaries.
Amber attracts lint with static electricity when rubbed.
In the past it is thought to protect the wearer from kidnapping and aging and keep evil spirits away.
Cure for a variety of conditions such as headaches and rheumatic pain and enhance fertility.
Amber brings the wearer good luck in a variety of situations from going to war to getting married.
Often used as grave goods for a variety of reasons.
Thrown into fires to release aromatic fragrances.

Amber has always been popular and its use can be traced back to Neolithic times. The uniqueness of the gem has inspired different cultures throughout history to marvel, wonder and sometimes kill for it. We have always loved Amber and so it was only fitting that the first web site we set-up was to sell Amber Jewelry. The article is drawn from many years of reading about amber to satisfy our curiosity. My sister and I hope this will be the first of many articles on this fascinating topic. Please visit our site http://newamberjewelry.com/home to see if you agree with us regarding the diversity of this gem.

19th Century Scientific American - Though very different from today's Scientific American Magazine, the articles of the 19th Century Scientific American is a nice read for students of this period.
4000 Years of Women in Science - Women's contributions to Science, from Antiquity to the Nineteenth Century.
A Science and Technology Odyssey - Timeline of the history of science and technology from 20,000 BC to 1800.
A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom - Complete text of the 1896 classic by Andrew Dickson White.
A Science Odyssey - Presents the people and the discoveries of 20th century science and technology in a variety of accessible, and interactive Web features. Based on the PBS television series.
Ancient Greece: Science and Technology - Discusses early inventions, such as calculating devices, machines using gears, steam engines, war technology, and town planning. Some mathematicians included are Thales, Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, and Appolonius. Some topical concepts covered are astronomical discoveries, prime numbers, evolution of the species, and measuring the circumference of the earth.
Ancient Greek Science - Learn about the scientists of ancient Greece, what they have contributed to science, and information about their background.
Australian Science Archives Project - ASAPWeb - Aims to improve access to Australia's scientific, technological and medical heritage by helping to preserve records and artifacts and communicating the existence of this heritage to a wide audience. Includes scientist biographies.
Birr Castle Demesne - A science museum in Ireland devoted to the astronomical, engineering botantical and photographical work of the Parsons family.
Britain and the Rise of Science - Lisa Jardine investigates the origins of the commitment to science as the firm basis for Britain's success in commerce and industry. From the BBC.
Calendars Through the Ages - History and FAQs of various calendars, including Julian, Gregorian, Jewish, Islamic, Chinese, and Mayan. Astronomy, years, months, and days of the week.
Commentary on the Effects of Electricity on Muscular Motion - Facsimile of Galvani's original and an English translation.
Darwin-L Archives on the Historical Sciences - Archives of messages and supporting materials from this professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.
Daylight Saving Time - History from Benjamin Franklin to the present. U.S. law and practice. Worldwide time change dates.
Echo Science and Technology Virtual Center - Annotated catalogue of history of science, technology, and medicine resources.
Epact: Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe - Online database of medieval and Renaissance scientific instruments made before 1600 A.D. held at four European museums.
Events in Science, Mathematics and Technology - Neil Brandt's timeline covers historic highlights from classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, astronomy, cosmology, mathematics, and technology. [PDF]
Faith and Reason. - On the historical interactions of science and religion. (From PBS.)
Green Lion Press - Independent book publisher specializing in history of mathematics and history of science. Includes information on ordering, books available, and how to contact them.
H-Net Child - History of Childhood and Youth
History of Evolutionary Thought - A timeline with information on major contributors to biology, geology, and paleontology from Aristotle up to the 20th century. From the UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology.
History of Russian Science - Virtual guide which includes article archives, bibliography, journals, institutiona and news.
History of Salt - Sodium chloride around the world in history from ancient to the 18th century. Includes resource links. From the Salt Institute.
History of Science - Book reviews from The Bactra Review.
History of Science in the United States - Bibliographies of reference and other works, including original sources, and an indexed chronology of American science 1790-1910.
History of the Physical Sciences in India - Essay outlining developments in the study of physics and chemistry in India. Lists some of the early atomic theories, as well as insights gathered in the fields of astronomy, optics, sound, and other branches of physics.
In Our Time: Science Archive - BBC Radio 4 series in which Sir Melvyn Bragg discusses a topic in the history of ideas with a trio of experts. This page indexes the discussions on science, both historical and contemporary, for online listening.
Institute and Museum of History of Science - Florence, Italy - The museum and web site are particularly rich resources for the life and work of Galileo.
International Commission on History of Meteorology - Information about the commission and about meetings discussion the history of meteorology.
International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science - HOPOS - Promote serious, scholarly research on the history of the philosophy of science. Includes news and events.
International Union of History and Philosophy of Science - Division of History of Science - Information on the organization, together with a links page and listings of upcoming conferences.
Internet History of Science Sourcebook - Links to documents and Web resources pertaining to the history of science including original texts from great scientific thinkers.
Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Scientific Revolution - Primary sourcebook intended to serve the needs of teachers and students in college survey courses in modern European history and American history.
Islamic Alchemy in the Context of Islamic Science - Focus on chemistry, botany and medicine with overviews in other areas.
Jesuits and the Sciences: 1540-1995 - An exhibit of rare scientific works from the Cudahy Collection of Jesuitica.
Museum of Microscopy - Virtual museum of microscopes, ranging from the earliest 16th century European instruments to modern microscopes from around the world.
Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford - Library catalog, image library, and numerous virtual exhibits available online.
Muslim Scientists, Mathematicians and Astronomers Before European Renaissance, 700-1500 C.E. - Historical review of the Muslim contribution to humanity and Islamic Civilization. Gives biographies of scientists and describes their contributions and influence on European thought and discoveries.
National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists - Catalogue of archives of the papers of contemporary British scientists. Search alphabetically, chronologically or by discipline. Also, has list of Nobel prize winners.
Nobel e-Museum - Biographies and Nobel Lectures of the prizewinners, from the Nobel Foundation.
Office of NIH History - Foster documentation, preservation, and interpretation of the history of the National Institutes of Health. Features online exhibits, education, and historical resources.
Philosophy, Science and Technology in India - History of rational philosophy, scientific method, epistomology and technology in ancient India.
Reviews of History of Science books - Reviews, by Danny Yee, of a range of books on the history of science, mostly popular titles.
Science Timeline - A chronology from the 7th millennium BC to the present day, with brief explanations of events in the history of western natural philosophy and sciences.
Science and Engineering Indicators 2004 - Report by the National Science Board and National Science Foundation on U.S. science and technology, including education and research and development, from World War II to the end of the 20th century. [PDF]
Science and You - Several articles, mostly on history and philosophy of science, aimed at a lay audience.
Some Early Microscopes from the Optical Institute in Wetzlar - Carl Kellner founded what was named the Optical Institute in Wetzlar Germany in 1849. By 1851 he employed twelve workmen and was producing his first microscopes.
Technology and Culture - A quarterly scholarly journal dedicated to the historical study of technology in its relationships with society and culture. Index and current issue table of contents.
The Alchemy Web Site - Comprehensive library of imagery, symbols, music, alchemical texts and commentary. Includes course material in practical alchemy, bibliography, and modern day resources.
The Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920 - Documents the historical formation and cultural foundations of the movement to conserve and protect America's natural heritage.
The History and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine - Long list of internet resources in the field of the history of science.
Today in Science History - Memorializes births and deaths of famous and not so famous scientists of the past, and other events in science history. Searchable.
University of Massachusetts Amherst: Social and Demographic Research Institute (SADRI) - Publishes the journal Social Science History, which reports its interdisciplinary research findings. Includes related association links.
Victorian Science - Science in the 19th century. Overview plus much specific information on themes, disciplines, and individuals.
Who Invented the Thermometer? - Timeline showing the development of the thermometer from Galileo to Kelvin.