Burmite Cretaceous Amber
Burmite Cretaceous Amber
A beautiful and unique piece of history, burmite is fossilized plant resin known for its vivid golden hues. Recovered in Northern Myanmar (Burma), this particular amber dates from the Cretaceous period.
Available in four different sizes, this specimen is presented in our signature glass-topped riker case for easy display. This add-on also includes a specimen card, which doubles as its certificate of authenticity.
📸 Inspecting amber
Cretaceous Amber
Amber is a beautiful substance used by humans for thousands of years. Beginning as plant resin, amber forms very slowly under tremendous heat and pressure for millions of years, eventually becoming a low-density, amorphous solid. The process of molecular polymerization also preserves traces of climate and life in nearly perfect condition.
📸 A selection of Large Burmite pieces showing the range of colors and shapes
This specimen is a polished bead of Cretaceous amber from the Hukawng Valley of Northern Myanmar (Burma). It was acquired personally by Hans Fex during a trip to the amber markets of Téngchōng, China, which sits very close to the border of Myanmar.
Please Note: Seeds, small leaves, and pollen grains are abundant in all specimens. One may also find small arthropods (i.e. insects and arachnids). This is not guaranteed, and in most cases, the creatures will be quite tiny if they are present.
All specimens ship inside our classic, glass-topped riker boxes cases. The cases measure 4 1/2" x 3 1/2". A small information card is also included. As pictured, smaller sizes will be enclosed in acrylic specimen jars.
MORE ABOUT AMBER
What is amber?
Amber is a unique fossil substance that shines with a golden hue. For millennia it has been an object of interest to many cultures and some pieces are especially interesting due to the prehistoric creatures captured within. The story of these nuggets of time all begins millions of years ago with an insect and a tree.
When a plant is damaged by a hungry bug, it secretes a substance called resin to activate its defense system. Resin is a viscous material produced by plants, primarily from conifers, that is both sticky and smelly (some might say fragrant). This scent lures the insect towards it, where it can quickly become trapped in the resin. In essence, it is an ancient and organic flypaper.
📸 Insects Trapped in Amber
The tackiness of resin comes from carboxylic acids which make up the bulk of its mass. Hydrocarbon compounds known as terpenes provide the fragrance. Together, these organic compounds create the perfect bug-catching defense for trees. In fact, if you've ever enjoyed the scent of a pine candle, you may be falling for the very same evolutionary trap!
When compressed and heated beneath layers of sediment for millions of years, tree resin undergoes a process of molecular polymerization. This changes the chemical structure of the resin, making it tougher and stony. The result is a low-density, amorphous solid known as amber.
Front of the Specimen Card
Back of the Specimen Card
Further Reading
Daza, Juan D., Edward L. Stanley, Philipp Wagner, Aaron M. Bauer, and David A, Grimaldi. "Mid-Cretaceous amber fossils illuminate the past diversity of tropical lizards." Science Advances 2(3) 4 March 2016. Web. 5 April 2019.
Grimaldi, David A., Michael S. Engel, and Paul C. Nascimbene. "Fossiliferous Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Burma): its rediscovery, biotic diversity, and paleontological significance." American Museum Novitates (2002): 1-71.
Pierson, Jessica A. Late Cretaceous (Campanian and Maastrichtian) Sequence Stratigraphy, Southeastern North Carolina, USA. Diss. University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2003.
Shi, Guanghai, David A. Grimaldi, George E. Harlow, Jing Wang, Jun Wang, Mengchu Yang, Weiyan Lei, Qiuli Li, and Xianhua Li. "Age constraint on Burmese amber based on U-Pb dating of zircons." Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 155-163. Web. 5 April 2019.
Swift, Donald JP, and S. Duncan Heron Jr. "Tidal deposits in the Cretaceous of the Carolina Coastal Plain." Sedimentary Geology 1 (1967): 259-282.
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