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crystals,
gems and minerals
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Amber
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Scientific:
Most people think of
amber as a gemstone. It is really an organic
gem as it is petrified resin exuded from
trees that grew 30 to 60 million years ago.
Gems derived from animals or plants are
described as "Organic." Other organic gems
include jet, coral, pearls and shells.
Amber comes translucent or opaque, with
colors ranging from milky to red, brown,
gold or even black, blue, or green. Each
piece of amber is unique. As the resin
hardened, it trapped bits of forest debris,
lichens and insects. Boiling it in oil can
clear opaque amber. To tell the difference
between real and fake amber, stick the piece
of amber with a hot needle in an
inconspicuous place. The fumes produced will
either smell like pine resin or melting
plastic. Reconstituted amber will tend to be
perfectly clear or swirly. It will not have
the natural occurrences in it that real
amber has. |
From the private collection of M. Schneider.
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Amber is
light in weight and warm to the touch. Amber
is only slightly denser than seawater and
large lumps can be carried across the sea.
Amber is known to carry an electrical
charge. The word "Electricity" is derived
from the Greek name for amber, (elektron).
Amber burns with a sweet smell and has been
used as incense. Young amber, copal, is 10
million years old and found primarily in
Africa. Amber as we know it is at least 30
million years old and found primarily in the
Baltic region, Dominican Republic, and
Mexico. (The movie Jurassic Park, was
incorrect because the amber they used was
approx 35 million yrs old and the dinosaurs
they used were approx 60 -100 million years
old.) |
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Hardness:
2 - 4 Very soft, easy to carve or melt.
Chemical Symbol: Approximately C10H16O;
Succinic acid
(Many people don't know to avoid amber
contact with perfumes, hair spray and
cosmetics. Warm water and soap is the way to
clean amber.) |
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History:
The use of amber has been
documented for at least four thousand years.
Amber beads have been found in ancient
graves dating back to two thousand B.C.
Amber was believed to have talismanic
properties and many ancient peoples buried
amber objects and amulets with their dead to
protect them in the afterlife and insure
their immortality. Sacred to the Greek God
Apollo, amber was once thought to be
congealed sunlight. Amber was also viewed as
tears by the Vikings, Freya's tears for
Svipdag, and for the ancient Greeks, tears
over the death of Phaeton. In some cultures
amber was thought to be the solidified urine
of the lynx. Some believe amber to be the
tears that birds shed at learning of the
death of Jesus. Amber has been hung on
shields and fortresses because of its
legendary protective qualities. |
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Historically, it has been thought to have
medicinal properties, and is said to cure
fevers, jaundice, deafness, blindness and
other disabilities. A general prophylactic
against diseases of the throat and belly and
prevents poisoning. Now get this: sitting
over the smoke of burning amber was said to
cure hemorrhoids. Ouch! Even as late as the
20th century, amber was believed to cure
sore throats and dissolve glandular swelling
of the neck. Many Europeans still believe
that wearing an amber necklace can cure
goiters. When amber was too scarce to use in
rosary beads the church encouraged
physicians to use amber as a medicine.
Though it has been said to cure depression
and stop suicidal tendencies, the real
beauty in amber is its antiquity in relation
to mans short time on earth. |
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Metaphysical:
Amber represents
attunement to nature and an intellectual
understanding of the mystery of life. It is
purported to balance the body's chi energy
flow and guides the healing process. It
attracts the elements of nature to us. Amber
is said to promote physical vitality. It has
a protective quality and is deemed to be the
bearer of good fortune. It offers strength,
wealth, and fortitude, helping one to
realize ones own potential. Amber helps one
understand what is to be learned from the
earth school and helps one to absorb the
meaning of meditation and ritual. Amber is
said to be good for opening up the chakras. |
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Teresa's Rock of the Week, formerly Gail's Rock of the Week |
