Amber is not a stone, but petrified, fossil resin. The amber, which is referred to in the scientific sense as amber, developed parallel to the brown coal and comes mainly from the Eocene, i.e. from about 40 to 50 million years ago.
This amber originated from the resin of conifers, mainly from the amber pine (in Latin Pinus succinifera). In common usage, however, fossil resin of other origin than amber is called, which is either transparent, translucent or opaque and usually of yellowish color. That’s why Amber can be over 250 million years old.
From the tree resin developed in the course of time a solid, yet very light dimensions, but no crystals. Therefore, Amber is not a stone and in the true sense of the word is not one of the minerals, but has counted for millennia to the gemstones and the oldest known gemstones and healing stones.
Symbolism and Meaning
In the history of ancient Greece, Amber has a considerable importance: Regardless of the ancient Greeks attributed to Amber magic powers, the current term electricity has its origins in Greek, from the name used at the time for Amber: rub Amber for example with a cloth, so forms a strong negative charge.
Therefore, the ancient Greeks also called Amber as an electron, which ultimately coined the term electricity. The sensitivity to various chemical substances tried to use the ancient Greeks also: They made drinking vessels made of amber, in the hope that the vessel will discolor if poisoned content is present. In Egypt, one found findings with Amber, which are more than 6,000 years old.
For the Vikings, Amber was considered a defense against evil in general. As far as the Amber of the Dominican Republic is concerned, it can be traced back to the records of the navigator Christopher Columbus. The Amber was mined Columbus in many places in the open pit.
In addition to the traditional and historical picking up of amber on various coasts (it is said to be 20 tons and more after heavy storms in one day), the methods of obtaining amber in Columbus throughout history are remarkable:
After Amber was fished with large nets, in which the fisherman stood on the coast in the water and threw the net in the surfing waves. Amber pieces, for example, caught between the seaweed, which was flushed into the net and could be sorted out after the catch on land. (Amber fishing is still practiced in some regions, including Germany).
Another method from the history is the Amber stone: As a building material from rowing boats from large stones were recovered from the seabed. These stones loosened and loosened with long poles. Afterwards, the seabed was scanned for Amber, where swords attached to long poles were swung in the water, causing amber to float to the surface of the water and be retrieved with nets.
Already at the beginning of the 18th century they practiced with the Amber. However, this type of Amber property was only really successful from about the mid-19th century, since only then diving suits were available as a technical tool. Until about mid-19th century so-called amber riders were active on the North Sea coast, which fished from the horse, with a rod to which a net was attached, in the shallow water to Amber.
Legendary is the amber room, which disappeared in the Second World War. After photographs of this work of art arose in the Katharinenpalast near Pushkin in admirable manner by the hands of Russian specialists from the end of the 70s to the year 2003 a replica of this most well-known work of art from amber. This replica is open to the public and an impressive landmark for art connoisseurs, art lovers and lovers of amber.
General Properties
Amber exists in several colors with different appearance: The color of the natural amber goes from white over yellowish and yellow, orange and rarely also red, to brown and black, rarely colorless, mixed colors in the above-mentioned colors, both milky and opaque, as well as transparent. However, only the slightest part of natural amber has a clear appearance. In appearance, Amber shows a shine like wax.
The appearance in the optics and how the color comes to the fore is fundamentally dependent on the shape, whether it is, for example, tumbled stones, naturally left pieces or facetted pieces. As amber in greenish color or bluish appearance so far only petrified resin from the Dominican Republic is known.
There are some sites of Amber, with different abundance. The largest part of the mining of amber occurs in the Baltic, still mainly in the area around Kaliningrad. In this area, there are large deposits of amber which even allow mining in open pit.
There are Amber deposits on a large area in a layer of sediments, which is referred to as “blue earth” and has a thickness of several meters. At the localities in the coastal region, the Amber deposits reach up to about 10 meters depth. The Amber deposits at the inland sites go down to a depth of about 30 meters. Amber deposits are now mined in the Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Poland and northern Ukraine.
The Amber sites in the Dominican Republic are known for the Amber deposits with very many fossil inclusions in Amber. In addition, there are localities whose Amber deposits repeatedly enable the mining of particularly clear Amber pieces. In addition, there are localities with occurrences, where degradation of the rare blue amber takes place. (To avoid confusion: The blue amber has nothing to do with the blue Larimar, which also comes from the Dominican Republic and is often processed in very similar ways in beautiful pieces of jewelry.)
Already in antiquity, mining of Amber deposits was carried out at the sites in Poland. Poland is still one of the major countries in the mining of amber. Even today, there are sites in Poland with Amber deposits that allow the mining of amber in many different colors and often transparent amber.
In addition, there are sites of Amber, in which the mining of the Amber deposits occurred in the past, but was discontinued for various reasons, for example, in Germany, in the area of lignite coalfields, including Bitter Feld. Amber from this region is known since about 1670.
In the Bitter Feld area an amber occurrence was rediscovered in the 70s on the basis of geological scientific analyzes, which was suitable for the reduction of amber from the size of the occurrence. Until the beginning of the 1990s, mining of the Amber deposits in the open pit was carried out at this site.
For reasons of environmental protection and economic considerations, mining of this Amber deposit was discontinued in 1993. Other Amber deposits are located at sites near Helmstedt (brown coal opencast mine) and localities south of Leipzig.
Ultimately, the same applies to Amber: factors such as the quality and size of the deposits, but also the location of the sites and the environmental conditions of the deposits, are decisive for the reduction of the deposits at the various localities. Amber can be traced back in the history and history of humans over millennia.
Love and Relationships
The Amber stone is going to help you find meaning in life and in love. This powerful stone will lead you to a clear point in your life and gift you with the gift of realization.
Health Benefits
Amber is petrified, fossil resin and is one of the oldest and most sought-after gemstones and gemstones in the world. Its use as jewelry and for art objects goes back to the prehistory of humanity.
The most famous art object made of amber to date is the Amber Room, which is still considered lost today. Already in the Bronze Age, Bernstein always reached the same trade routes from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. The so-called Amber Roads.
The name of the gem derives from the Low German “Börnsteen” (Brennstein), and is due to its flammability. His Latin name is “Electrum”. Even then it was known that he was electrostatically charged by friction. So he was used in antique households, among other things, as a clothes brush, as he drew dust by rubbing. In Greece, amber was called the “electron”, which can be translated as “light gold” or “white gold”. The scientific term is “succinite”, whereby the so-called “inclusions” are of particular interest.
These are amber with insects or plants as inclusions. Amber is also known since ancient times as a versatile healing stone. Thales von Milet believed that he could keep pathogens away and Pliny the Elder attributed to him a fever-reducing effect. Furthermore, he was in ancient times as a remedy for gout and dysentery.
Carried as an amulet, its protective effect should be able to avert disaster. Even in ancient mythology, amber had its firm place, according to which it was created by the gods. In the middle Ages, Bernstein was also said to have special healing powers, and Hildegard von Bingen used it for stomach disorders and bladder dysfunction.
Later it was crushed, and used internally for diseases of the liver, kidneys and bile, but also for complaints of stomach and digestion. He was also considered a protection against evil spells and should drive away witches, demons and trolls.
Amber oil was rubbed in rheumatism. The well-known physician and microbiologist Robert Koch studied amber for the first time scientifically and found that the contained succinic acid can have an immune-boosting effect. Even today, amber is considered a protective stone and healing stone and is used by succinic acid in the pharmaceutical industry.
Amber is one of the most important healing stones of all. An overview and description of the most important gems can be found in the article “Top Healing Stones”. In our comprehensive gem encyclopedia, even more than 400 healing stones are captured with images that can be searched by color, origin, effect, meaning, zodiac sign, etc.
Amber has always been considered a protective stone. Above all, however, he is known as a stone of zest for life and optimism. It calms the mind and can relieve depression and anxiety. This awakens the spirits and provides creative ideas. Bernstein’s optimism also promotes flexibility and decision-making. These positive effects of amber result in a livelier and more attractive appearance.
The petrified resin is not assigned to a mineral class and is one of the oldest healing stones and most popular jewelry worldwide. The most famous amber work of art is the Amber Room, which has disappeared to this day.
In ancient cultures, the extraordinary healing stone also served as a clothes brush, because its electrostatic properties attracted dust and dirt very well. The Greeks called the organic resin “electron”, which means “light gold”. In antiquity, however, amber was also considered a versatile healing stone against germs, abdominal discomfort and gout.
Hildegard von Bingen used the amber for stomach and bladder complaints. Later, the stones were crushed and used for internal use in diseases of the kidneys, bile, liver and digestive problems.
Amber oil was used as the effective rubbing agent in rheumatic. The German physician Robert Koch found out after investigations that the succinic acid contained in the healing stones strengthens the immune system. To this day, the amber properties are considered as healing in mental and physical complaints.
Amber has a strong effect on the psyche. The healing stone raises, gives self-confidence and gives life force. As a stone of optimism and through its joie de vivre effects, the healing stone promotes creative ideas, increases flexibility and conveys assertiveness. The warm amber fire takes you back to your inner center, helping you make decisions more easily and giving you a more vibrant look.
Amber Stone and Wealth
As an amulet amber should avert misfortune, drive away trolls and banish black magic. Geologists refer to amber as “succinite”.
From a scientific point of view, especially the inclusions (inclusions) with plant parts, arthropods, bird feathers or insects are interesting.
Amber Stone and Zodiac
Amber is assigned to the Zodiac Gemini (21.05 – 21.06.), Leo (23.07. – 23.08.) And Virgo (24.08.-23.09.). The assignment of gemstones to zodiac signs in horoscopes always causes confusion, since many a gemstone in which a horoscope is assigned to a certain zodiac, but is not assigned to the corresponding zodiac sign in another horoscope.
The reason is simple. The assignment of individual gems to constellations is a very ancient lesson and then (thousands of years ago); mankind did not yet have the current trading opportunities. Which meant that regionally different assignments to the constellations took place? Humans could simply assign the stones available in their region to the constellations, zodiac signs.
Amber Stone and Chakras
The Amber stone is not linked to any specific Chakra.
How To Purify Amber Stone
The Amber stone should be cleaned at least twice per month to get rid of all the negative energy. Use simple lukewarm water and mild soap.
Summary
Health stones have been proving their special effect on mental and physical suffering for many centuries. Amber is one of the most popular healing stones and is often used as amber necklace, bracelet or flatterer. This energetic protective stone relieves toothache in young children, gives optimism, strengthens the immune system, provides vitality and relieves rheumatism.
The Latin name for the 260 million year old gold of the north is “Electrum”, as amber is electrically charged by friction. In addition to the typical amber colors cognac and honey brown, the color scale of the healing stones ranges from red to white-blue to black.
The localities include the Baltic States, the Baltic region, the Czech Republic, Spain, Austria, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The amber is the main stone for births in the star sign Gemini.
