amber

Amber

Amber, Reocín

The name comes from the arabic anbar. Amber is a fossil resin, from a conifer (fosilized). It founds in nodules, small masses. Sometimes with bubbles and fissures due tension. The surface use to be cracked. Generally the colour is yellow in shades from near white to deep golden, even brown to reddish-brown and brownish-red, bluish, greenish, violets and blacks colours. It use to have insects inclusions and plants rests. Transparent to translucent. When its rubbing, it charges itself electricaly and it attracts the dust.
Treatments: Heated with oil for to change the cloudy aspect due the bubbles and fissures, that it desappear after process; also it heated for to improve the colour.
Confusions: It exists a product called ambroide, it´s the result when heat peaces press of amber. Glasses and plastics should imitated the amber. When the resin has been formated not much time ago, it calls Copal.
We never do treatments.
Localities: Alava, Reocín (Santander), Utrilla (Teruel), Figols y Vilada (Barcelona).
Gemological use: Since long time ago it´s used for to decorate. In cab, carving, beads, etc.


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