Tradename(s):
Succinite (Baltic Amber), Burmite
(Burmese Amber), Simetite (Sicilian Amber), Rumanite (Rumanian
Amber)
Family:
Description:
Yellow, orange, red, brown, and
gold are the most common colors of amber. It is the fossil resin
of pine trees of about 120 million years old. Nodular
homogeneous structure of a shell-like formation. Sometimes has
inclusions of insects and parts of plants. True amber will float
in a saturated salt solution.
Hardness:
2-2.5
Found:
E.
Prussia (Poland), Baltic Sea, Romania, Siberia, Burma,
Czechoslovakia, Germany, Dominican Republic, Canada.
Healing
Properties:
When
worn around the neck, it assists in sore throats and upper
respiratory ailments. Can also assist in digestive ailments,
bleeding teeth, and headaches.
Astrology:
Associated with the signs of
Cancer, Taurus, Leo, and Aquarius. Associated with the Sun.
Chakra:
Feng Shui:
Promotes mental and emotional
strength.
Legends and
Folklore:
The name amber is probably from
the Arabic word "ambar". The Norse said that amber was formed
from the tears of goddess Freyja falling into the sea. The
ancient Greeks believed that it was petrified tears of the
Heliades when they cried at the death of their brother,
Phaethon. In ancient Rome, it was believed amber was the
solidified urine of the lynx. Amber was used as a trading
commodity in the Baltic Sea since the very early days of
trading. The Baltic Sea was even referred to as the Amber Sea by
the Greeks. Amber was used medicinally for centuries, usually in
the form of an elixir. The stone is one of the few stones that
can be charged with electricity, and the Greeks referred to it
by the name of "elektron" because of this property. The stone
has also been used to intensify meditation by wearing it as
beads. Amber has also been used in amulets, as charms repelling
evil, and carried as a stone that provided protection against
poisons.
