Amber
General Information
History
Although Amber is considered a crystal it is in fact fossilised tree resin. Amber comes from the fossilised resin that lived tens of millions of years ago in trees, the oldest found piece of amber was believed to be a colossal 320 million years old. Amber takes its name from the Arabic word Anbar which was later adopted in the middle ages as ambergris. This honeyed stone is believed to be one of the first substances used for personal adornment with decorated pieces of amber having been found dating back to the stone age. Known for producing an electrical charge when rubbed, the Greek name for amber was electron, which the word electricity is derived from. The ancient Greeks Believed to be sacred to the sun god Apollo, amber was once believed to be congealed sunlight, they also believed that it was the tears of the daughters of Apollo, the sun god. The Ancient Romans called Amber succinum meaning sap as it was correctly believed to originate from tree sap. Amongst the Vikings it was believed to be the tears of Freyja, the goddess of love and beauty. It was believed that she wore a necklace called Brisingamen which was made by four dwarven craftsmen of gold and amber. Being such an ancient stone there is no wonder that there is such vast history and folklore associated with it. This gem was so prized that the Prussian King Frederick William I gave an entire room of amber to the Russian Tsar Peter the Great, over the years this room was expanded till it covered 590 square feet using over 13,000 pounds of amber. Sadly the famous “Amber room” was lost during World War II.
Geography
Amber can be found all around the world, but the largest deposits are found in locations in the world such as The Dominican Republic and other locations around coasts of the Baltic Sea such as Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Poland, southern Sweden, northern Germany, and Denmark to name a few.
Geology
This ancient stone is in fact made from fossilised tree sap (resin) from prehistoric pine forests making more specimens over 50 million years old. It is believed that these trees released the sap as a defence against fungus and insect infestation, the molecules in the sap cross-linked eventually forming Amber. Some pieces of Amber can even encase fossilised insects, leaves, twigs, flowers or other organic matter within it. A fascinating property held by this warm stone is electrostatism, meaning that when rubbed or placed under pressure it can give off an electric charge.
Physical Properties
Appearance
Amber is most commonly found in warm shades of orange, golden and yellow however it can also be found in a whitish colour through to a pale lemon and even in brown and almost black. More rarely it can be seen in hues of red (sometimes referred to as “cherry amber”), green and even rarer, blue. Blue amber was only recently discovered and so far as almost exclusively been found in the Dominican Republic. Almost all amber found in the Dominican Republic (including blue amber) displays fluorescence meaning that it will change colour when a fluorescent light is shone on it.
Moh's Scale
This sensitive gem measures a 2 - 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Cleaning & Care
A highly sensitive gem Amber must be cared for delicately as it is easily scratched and affected by abrasives, chemicals, alcohol and even perfume, steamers and hot water. Some forms of amber are even flammable so should be kept away from fire. Should your amber become dirty you can simply clean it by rubbing it lightly and carefully with a clean, soft, untreated cloth. If needed you can clean it with a soft cloth and warm (not hot), soapy water to remove any dirt clinging to the stone before drying carefully.
Spiritual Care
Essential Uses
This bright crystal is said to help absorb energy and transmutes it into bright, soothing energy helping to calm nerves. Associated with the Sacral, Solar Plexus and Throat Chakra amber is an exceptional tool for soaking up heavy moods and bad vibes like a mental sunny day. A potent protector this balancing stone helps you to find balance and a sense of empowerment while encouraging spontaneity, wisdom and patience.
Our Family Uses
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