What is Amber?

Amber is one of the old-world treasures. There are many names for Amber; Baltic Amber, Fossil Resin, Succinite and Resinite. It is generally accepted that Amber is derived from resin bearing trees that once existed in dense forests that no longer exist. To be clear, it is not tree “sap” but specifically resin that the trees produce to protect themselves from injuries to itself caused by animals or natural phenomena like lighting and storms. These resins heal the wounds of the tree, keeping it healthy and safe.

Amber is a mixture of hydrocarbons, composed of several tree resins (mostly of an extinct Pine genus, or in some areas extinct Hymenaea species), plant materials, a volatile oil and succinic acid. Amber is not formed from tree sap, fluid that circulates through a plant’s vascular system, but from resin, an aromatic, semi-solid substance secreted though the plant’s epithelial cells. It is produced as a protection mechanism to draw off disease and injury caused by insects and fungi, heal over broken branches, or to ward off stress produced by rapid growth. As resins of the ancient forests filled internal fissures in the trees, dripped and oozed down the outer bark, they trapped insects, spiders, annelids and other small organisms, pieces of wood and plant matter, feathers and even hair. They then began to harden by losing their volatile components, and over time the forests fell and were carried by rivers to coastal regions where they were buried by sediments and became part of the ocean floor, or were re-positioned elsewhere by other geological events.

Baltic Amber is one of the oldest forms of Amber, dating back more than 40 million years. Shungite Masters sources its Amber from ethical suppliers in the Baltic regions. Our suppliers regularly test the Amber for its authenticity, so we can assure you that we are only supplying genuine Baltic Amber.

Amber comes in many colours, but the main colours you will find are Brown (Cognac), Orange (Honey) and Yellow (Lemon). There are also other colours like Red, Blue and Green, but these are much more uncommon.