Amber & Whitby Jet

Amber is a yellow, brown or reddish coloured fossilised resin originating from Pinus succinifera - a certain type of pine tree which flourished 40 million years ago in the period of geological time known as the Oligocene. It is low in density making it slightly buoyant in water and is soft enough to be worked by hand. Its chemical composition is a ratio of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It varies in character from transparent to translucent having internal cloudiness, although in its raw state a crusty outer skin is often present which disguises any natural transparencies the amber may have inside. As the amber was secreted from the trees, flies and other small animals were occasionally caught up in sticky surface. Eventually covered completely, the insects and even small amphibians have been preserved in remarkable detail and appear today as they must have done 40 million years ago. Amber therefore is a unique form of preservation in the fossil record and gives a unique insight into Oligocene life.

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