WHAT IS AMBER?

Amber (“Yantar” in Russian) is a form of prehistoric tree resin which oozed from pine trees millions of years ago. The sap enabled the trees to fight against disease and insect infestation. It eventually hardened, capturing creatures in it’s sticky substance. These creatures have been preserved in the sap to such microscopic detail that minuscule bits of DNA can still be found (which became a critical plot element in Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park).

Often regarded as a lightweight gem, amber has changed very little since its ancient beginning, because it has been sealed in the earth’s crust. Today it is found in wet clay-like areas in and under rivers, lagoons, and even the sea. Once exposed to oxygen, amber chemically decomposes; only under special circumstances can it be preserved.

Found in numerous places around the globe, there are only twenty in which amber can be mined. One of the richest mines is located in the appropriately named town of “Yantarny,” some 50 kilometers west of Kaliningrad.