Burmese amber - Fossil cabochon - Large swarm of beetles and dipterans, Fossil insect inclusions (No Reserve Price)

Locality: Hukong Valley, Myanmar (Burma)
Size (mm): 25x12
Notes:

Amber is fossilized tree resin that has been valued since ancient times. It is found in a variety of colors, ranging from light honey colored Baltic amber, to deeper orange tones, red, brown, and the prized Dominican blue amber. It can also come in opaque tones such as butterscotch and even black.

In order for ancient tree resin to become amber, it must be protected from decay long enough to undergo a process known as molecular polymerization. These conditions were present when the resin was covered with sediment that protected it from the elements, while providing the high pressure and heat needed to polymerize the molecules. Fast forward to the present, and the amber is mined, polished, and used for jewelry and decorations in addition to scientific research.

Due to the sticky nature of tree resin, insects, debris, and organic matter were often trapped before the resin hardened. The resulting fossil inclusions in amber are the most spectacularly preserved fossils in the entire fossil record. Soft tissue preservation is rarely seen in the rest of the fossil record, but commonplace in amber. The result is a biodiversity and look into ancient ecosystems that is unparalleled.

Every piece of amber we sell is guaranteed genuine. Please visit our store for a wide selection of rare and well preserved amber specimens from around the world.