The Insect in Amber add-on is a self-contained bead of baltic amber dating to 40,000,000 to 60,000,000 years old, each with at least one insect trapped inside!

Each specimen is enclosed in a handsome, glass-topped riker box case measuring 4 1/2" x 3 1/2". A small information card is also included. The smaller size amber also includes a specimen jar with a removable lid for protection against loss.

Sizing:

• Small - Amber bead measures approximately 1/4"-1/2" inches in length (0.5-1 cm). 
• Large - Amber bead measures approximately 1 inch in length (2.5 cm). 

The smaller size tends to have better clarity as the bead is polished as close as possible to the insect. The larger size is great for carrying in your pocket and showing to groups. The larger size may contain multiple creatures not to mention plant material such as grasses and seeds, and the occasional arachnid (see closeup picture).

About Baltic Amber

When compressed and heated beneath layers of sediment for millions of years, tree resin undergoes a process of molecular polymerization. The result is a low-density, amorphous solid known as amber.

When recovered, amber is often dull, reddish brown, or even gray. After polishing, amber practically glows. This glow has been prized by humans for millennia. Scientists often find objects trapped in fossilized amber. These objects are called inclusions, and they range from dust and pollen to insects and even fossilized lizards!

The largest amber deposits in the world are located around the Baltic Sea. Amber from this region, referred to as Baltic amber, is considered the highest amber quality in the world. Baltic amber deposits date from the Eocene period, some 40-60 million years ago. Scientists consider Baltic amber the greatest repository of fossilized insects from any age.