90% of our amber is from Kaliningrad (Russia) with the rest coming from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. Amber is also found in the Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Lebanon, to name but a few.

Sub-tropical forests existing 30–50 million years ago in the Baltic region contained various tree species (especially pines) that produced a sticky resin from their bark. This gradually dripped down the trunk, collecting in small ‘pools’ on the forest floor. Air bubbles were often trapped, as were numerous other items (see Inclusions section).

The resin slowly dried and solidified to form a fossilised resin after covering and compaction by forest sediments. Rivers were responsible for moving some amber to the coast, from where it was distributed by sea, even reaching the beaches in eastern England. Some amber deposits lie in sediments extending out under the Baltic Sea. Pieces can become dislodged in storms and float away. 

Organic – carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. Close to C10H16O with hydrogen sulphide.

Amorphous (no distinct crystal structure). Amber is a naturally soft material (Mohs scale 2).

Many shades of yellow/brown. It can be transparent, translucent or opaque. ‘Cognac’ refers to the rich orange red, ‘Golden’ to golden yellow, ‘Buttermilk’ or ‘Candy’ to opaque cream amber and ‘Green’ to a specially prepared form. Raw amber pieces often have a reddish brown colour due to surface oxidation in the air.

Amber inclusions have provided scientists with superbly preserved evidence of forest plants and animals living millions of years ago (many of which are now extinct) which became ‘trapped’ in sticky resin.

Specimens have been found with perfectly preserved:
• insects such as flies, ants, spiders, bees (sometimes with full pollen sacks), mayflies, mosquitoes, moths, grasshoppers etc.
• small animals such as frogs, lizards, bird feathers, snakeskin or footprint impressions
• mosses, mushrooms and algae
• pieces from higher plants such as leaves, twigs, flowers, buds, bark, cones and pollen.

Fake inclusions from Russia are commonplace (scorpions are a favourite!). Air bubbles are a common inclusion and during amber preparation may form the ‘sun bursts/sun spangles’ which look like circular shiny fish scales. Exceptional pieces may contain a water droplet trapped in an air pocket – this would be REALLY old water!!