CRETACEOUS BURMESE AMBER FROM THE DINOSAUR ERA WITH INSECTS
Featured in this listing is a specimen with a leafhopper (cicadellidae) nymph. This young insect once fed on plant sap and would likely have been a pest to the tree that produced the resin that engulfed it.
Inclusions can be quite tiny. A high-powered loupe is reccomended to view detail on the inclusions.
Don't forget to check out my other listings for other specimens to suit all tastes and budgets!
What is Burmese Amber?
Burmese Amber, or Burmite is a fossilised resin which is believed to have emanated from an extinct species of tropical conifer tree that once grew in the area that is now Burma/Myanmar during the mid to late Cretaceous, between 90-105 million years ago. It has been suggested that these trees came from the Agathis genus, and are therefore related to the Kauri gum tree (agathis australis) an extant species responsible for the formation of Kauri gum, the famous copal (young amber) that was once mined extensively in New Zealand for use in varnish.
Unlike Baltic amber, Burmite contains little to no succinic acid, and is often found in coal seams, and is therefore classed as a form of retinite amber rather than succinite. Although it is considerably less common than Baltic amber (which forms between 80-90% of world amber production) it is probably the oldest form of amber that is mined and exploited commercially (other and older dinosaur era ambers exist, but are much rarer and deposits generally too small for large-scale mining).
Burmite is famous for its cherry-red coloured varieties, but as with other ambers, comes in a variety of colours, from pale yellow to brownish orange as well as red. It is also harder compared to most other ambers and has an 'oily' texture when held. As with baltic amber, it is quite hard wearing and very well suited for use in jewellery.
The inclusions you see in Burmese amber are older than the Tyrannosaurus Rex, but could well have lived amongst contemporaneous local dinosaurs such as Microceratus, a type of dinosaur that lived in Asia and featured in the film 'Jurassic Park' (and the more recent 'Jurassic World').
Burmese Amber can be easily distinguished from the more common Baltic Amber via a UV light test. Burmese amber fluoresces a strong milky blue, wheres Baltic amber fluoresces pale green (see photos). A common feature of Burmese amber is also the presence of conical tubes, which are thought to have been formed by bivalves boring into the amber after it had hardened and was lying in water.
Most fossiliferous ambers you will see for sale on ebay are much younger than this. The most common types of amber you will find for sale are Baltic and then Dominican amber, both of which were formed long after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. If you want to own a piece of amber with insects that lived amongst these iconic creatures this amber is for you!
Particulars:
Age:
90-105 Million years old (mid to late Cretaceous)
Size:
See photos
Country of Origin:
Kachin State, Burma/Myanmar (Hukaung Valley)
Guaranteed genuine!
I also sell handy magnifiers with a UV light as well as a normal LED built into them. These are very handy to have if you do not already own one, please see my other listings.
Item is based in the UK. International buyers are welcome, but please bear in mind that I am not responsible for any customs charges/restriction on the import of this item.
I will combine postage on multiple items. Please get in contact if you have any questions.