Listing of Past Listserv Discussions

April 2000: April 2000:

 

Subject: Re: Countries Names for Amber
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 10:11:51 +0200
From: Eugenio Ragazzi <ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it>
To: amber@d20.co.edu

At 17.44 13/04/00 +0300, you wrote:
>This is to correct that Elektron"An ancient greek name for amber" does not
mean
>"Bright material"
>but is so called due to the negative electrical charge aquired by friction.The
>name "electricity" as we all know it,comes from the word elektron or"electron".
>Salute to all on the list!!
>George.
>

George,
Thanks for your reply. You are right, the electrostatic properties of amber
were well known since ancient times and the original Greek term "elektron"
gave the name to all the words we today refer to electricity.
However, I still find in well-grounded bibliography (see for example the
ponderous treatise by Antonio Stoppani, published in 1886) that the term
"elektron" means "bright or shining thing". Elektron was the first term used
to indicate amber, as reported for example in Omero's poems, in Erodotus 3rd
book, in "Timeo" by Platone, in the 6th Book of Diodoro Siculo, in
"Meteorologia" by Aristotele, in the "Book of stones" by Teofrasto, in the
"Materia Medica" by Dioscoride, etc., In ancient Greek, "Elektor" was one
of the several names used to define the sun (by the way, the moon was called
"Elektris"). Therefore it is believed that amber was called "elektron" as
originated from these terms, and to refer to shining "stars", since amber
itself is shining. In the Webster Dictionary, under the term "electric" it
is possible to find also the etymology from the Greek (akin) "Elektor",
meaning "beaming sun".
In ancient times, "elektron" was a term used also to define an alloy of gold
and silver, that has the brightness in common with amber, and not the
electrostatic properties. Some authors believe that the term elektron,
quoted in Omero's poems, was used by the poet to indicate the alloy and not
amber at all.

Another curiosity: Andrea Mattioli, ancient medical doctor (1500-1577), in
his famous treatise wrote another Greek term for amber: "pterygophon" that
means "material that attracts feathers", again referring to the
electrostatic propertis of amber and closely related to the term "karabe".

Since we are talking about etymology, if this is of interest, I could add
that term "amber" is believed to derive from the Arabic word "Haur Rumi"
that means "Roman poplar tree": the following corrupted terms were Haurum,
Habrum, Hambrum and finally Ambarum and Amber. This origin is not
surprising, since in the mythology, after the death of Phaeton on the river
Eridano, his sisters, the Eliades, were transformed into poplars, and they
weeped tears of amber!!

Another opinion is that "amber" derives from the Arabic word "Anbar" or
"Ambar", that was formerly used to define "Grey amber", that is ambergris, a
product of secretion of the gut of a cetacean.

We might discuss more and more on the etymology of the term. I believe that
a smart thought to this regard is that reported by Gesner in 1753 (already
at the time...) in his book in Latin "De electro veterum": "Poetarum fabulis
impleta et deformata omnia ... de natura succini, de ortu illius et
qualitatibus nihil certi et explorati"; a free translation could be: "Poets
in their poems alter everything; on the origin of amber and its properties,
nothing is sure"!

Have a nice day. Ciao!

Eugenio

P.S.: Following the interesting debate on the listserv about names of amber,
we could also remember that often different kinds of fossil resins (with
this term I mean all kind of ambers) have been named according to
geographical nomenclature (for example, burmite from Burma, rumenite from
Romania, etc..), or to mineralogic nomenclature (for example simetite from
the Sicilian river Simeto), besides compositional chemical nomenclature (for
example: succinite). These terms are currently avoided in scientific
literature to prevent confusion. It is better to say "fossil resin from ..."
or "amber from ...".

**************************************************************
Eugenio Ragazzi, M.D.
Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology
Department of Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology
University of Padova
Largo E. Meneghetti, 2
I-35131 Padova (Italy)
e-mail: ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it
fax: +39-049-827.5093 phone: +39-049-827.5775

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: succinite and retinite
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:29:42 +0200
From: Eugenio Ragazzi <ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it>
To: amber@d20.co.edu

Hale,

I perfectly agree with you: succinite and retinite are obsolete terms that
should not be used any more in the scientific literature.

In some dictionaries, such as Chambers' Technical Dictionary it is possible
to read under "succinite": "A variety of amber separated mineralogically
because it yelds succinic acid".
Conversely, for "resinite" (Websters' 3rd New International Dictionary): "A
fossil resin of variable composition".
Also in several other encyclopedias here in Italy there are still these
definitions.

Although not correct as mineralogical terms, I see that they are still used.

Even I found that Dominican amber has been classified by an amber dealer
(here in Italy) as succinite !! (Nonsense: Dominican amber does not contain
succinic acid).

Regards,

Eugenio Ragazzi

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Re: succinite and retinite
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:19:11 -0400
From: Paul Howell <phowell@pop.uky.edu>

To: amber@d20.co.edu

I believe the main reason that succinite and retinite can not be
accepted as "mineral" terms is that they do not describe "minerals". A
mineral is commonly defined (for scientific use) as being a chemical
element or a compound that:
1) occurs naturally,
2) has a definable chemical composition, and
3) has a definable crystal form.
Also, many definitions also exclude "organic" materials -- those being
composed primarily of organic (CHO) compounds -- but this restriction is
not universally accepted. However, the three-component definition above is
plenty to exclude all varieties of amber (as well as other organics such as
coal) from the official mineral lists -- it certainly does not have a
definable crystal form, and it has a fairly variable chemical composition
as well.
Of course there is nothing wrong with not being a "mineral". Amber
remains a "rock", and of course a "stone" and especially a "gemstone". I
care little for the more specific names such as "succinite" -- I tend in my
professional life to be more of a "lumper" than a "splitter" when it comes
to terminology.
-Paul.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Succinite etc.
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 09:43:42 +0100
From: "andrej wout" <rodi@clara.co.uk>
To: "Amber Mailing List" <amber@d20.co.edu>

I can see why mineralogists wish to be specific on the usde or non use of succinite as a
term. But, for the rest of us,
practicality is probably the thing! Succinite is an excellent, useful and clear word to use that
defines exactly what we are all
discussing.

Rodi

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: mineral names for fossil resins
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 23:19:51 +0200
From: Eugenio Ragazzi <ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it>
To: amber@d20.co.edu

Regarding mineral names for amber, I found an interesting article by Dr.
Norbert Vavra, University of Wien (Austria), entitled: Chemical
Characterization of Fossil resins ("Amber") - A critical review of methods,
problems and possibilites: Determination of Mineral Species, Botanical
Sources and geographical attribution, appeared in Abh. Geol. B.-A.
49:147-157, 1993.

Here I have reported some lines of the above paper that might be of interest
to the Amberlist.

"Mineral names for Fossil Resins. Unfortunately there does still exists a
considerable confusion in respect to the use of mineral names for fossil
resins: "amber" can be regarded as the most prominent example in this
respect. This term is used either as a general term for all fossil resins,
or as a general term for all fossil resins coming from the Baltic area or as
a synonym for succinite. There have also been attempts to classify fossil
resins in amber, "amber-like resins" and resins being dissimilar to amber -
a system having had much to do with the contents of succinic acid in the
different resins.
Besides there does exist a steadily increasing amount of mineral names for
different fossil resins; many countries have made contributions to this
still growing list of names: gedanite, beckerite, stantierite, krantzite and
glessite are examples from the Baltic area; ajkaite, telegdite and
kiscellite have been described from Hungary; walchovite, muchite and
neudorfite have been mentioned from localities in Czechoslovakia; or add a
few more "exotic" examples: ambrite from New Zealand, bacalite from Baja
Californica, bucaramangite from Columbia, chemawinite and/or cedarite from
Canada, burmite from Burma, guyaquilite from Ecuador etc. More "Recent"
examples to be found in the literature are: amekite from Nigeria, or
goitschite, bitterfeldite, durglessite and pseudostantierite from the coal
mine of Bitterfield.
Modern mineralogical and organic geochemical research has estabilished quite
a number of such fossil resins as valid mineral species; beckerite,
stantienite, glessite, krantzite and gedanite are such examples. Others have
been recognized as junior synonyms and are therefore no valid mineral names
any more: neudorfite and muchite are for instance synonyms of walchovite or
the above mentioned cedarite must be regarded as an invalid synonym of
chemawinite. Some others (e.g. "bacalite") are of dubious origin and
therefore no reasonable basis for further use or must be regarded as a
general term for different fossil resins having only one thing in common:
the geographical origin."

"... it is only possible to determine by chemical and physicochemical
methods a mineral species like succinite or whatever and according to the
present state of knowledge it is not possible to make geographical
attributions in general. The widespread occurrence of succinite makes such a
goal hopeless from the very first beginning. ... There is nevertheless the
possibility for those resins (e.g. the simetite from Sicily) which occur in
a rather restricted area only to draw geographical conclusions on the basis
of the identification of a special mineral species; or one has - being aware
of the fact that in Europe succinite has no far only been detected "north of
the Alps" - to restrict to the simple statement that this or that
archaeological object was made of material from "north of the Alps" -
leaving no possibility to discern between succinite from England, the North
Sea, the Baltic area or whatever."

**************************************************************
Eugenio Ragazzi, M.D.
Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology
Department of Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology
University of Padova
Largo E. Meneghetti, 2
I-35131 Padova (Italy)
e-mail: ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it
fax: +39-049-827.5093 phone: +39-049-827.5775

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Re: mineral names for fossil resins
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 19:48:24 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it, amber@d20.co.edu

I don't know about the rest of you, but I prefer to keep things simple. The
word "amber" suits me just fine! Thank you Dr. Ragazzi for your work finding
this article. It's informative, but way more information than I can process.
:-) I'm glad the list is back to being fun, though. There are some great
people on here and together we have so many resources. It's great!

Tammi

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Subject: Amber and prehistoric people
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 23:17:05 -0500
From: jfudala <jfudala@home.com>
Organization: @Home Network
To: amber@d20.co.edu

http://www.wtinet.com/wti/yantar3.htm

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: FW: Rare amber inclusions lost
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 06:27:54 +0100
From: Garry Platt <garry.platt@wgrange.com>

To: "Amber Discussion Group (E-mail)" <amber@d20.co.edu>

I recieved this message from Leif Brost, the curator at the Swedish Amber
Museum. Apologies, if this has already circulated around the group, the e
mail I recieved indicated that it had not come from this source.

Garry Platt


-----Original Message-----
From: Swedish Amber Museum [mailto:brost@brost.se]
Sent: 19 April 2000 23:57
To: brost@brost.se
Subject: Rare amber inclusions lost

To
Museums with amber collections,
and amber inclusion collectors

Lost amber during "Lost World" exhibition

In 1994 after Spielbergs film "Jurassic Park" successfully hit the world,
Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment donated the dinosaur models to
the non profit "Dinosaur Society" for a travelling exhibition in the US. Our
museum sent amber inclusions to follow and complete the DNA story behind.
After a three year Science- and Natural History Museum tour, everything was
returned to us in 1997 in proper condition.

In 1998 we got a new request from the founder of the Dinosaur society, Don
Lessem, now manager of the Dinosaur Exhibitions LLC. When the new film "Lost
World" opened, he asked for exhibition materials for display again.

This time we sent two new amber fossil exhibitions and a variety of natural
amber lumps for two travelling exhibitions with the title "The Dinosaurs of
Jurassic Park / The Lost World". After visiting two of the exhibitions, Gulf
Coast Museum of Science in Mobile and Maryland Science Center in Baltimore
in 1999, we realised, that some materials were missing and decided to
investigate the loss. After request we recently got part of our materials
back, but unfortunately our best specimens from the "Frozen Drama"
exhibition are still missing. The bigger expensive natural amber pieces are
also missing.

KDOC -TV in California, who are now in charge, opened the ongoing "The
Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park / The Lost World" without our specimens in San
Diego Natural History Museum in March. According to Don Lessem they are now
going to ask the FBI for help.

Among the missing pieces are very rare inclusions with 40 million year old
petrified "stories".
- A piece with a termite worker feeding a termite soldier (irreplaceable).
- Very rare spiders, beetles and flies in copula (mating positions).
- A piece containing mammalian hair.
- Two predators with pray and 9 other rare inclusions.

Pictures are available on the internet at: http://www.brost.se/lostamber/

With hope to get it back and to prevent future trading, we are sending this
announcement to you and others with amber fossil interest.

We ask you to forward this message to amber fossil collectors and contact
us, if you get to know anything about these specimens.

Sincerely

Leif Brost
General manager

Swedish Amber Museum
Mariav.4
236 35 Höllviken
Tel. +4640450861
brost@brost.se
http://www.brost.se/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Amber, and what it is called in different countries
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 09:41:44 -0500
From: "Whelan, Inge J" <inge.whelan@eds.com>
To: amber@d20.co.edu

Hello Amber Gurus!

Below, are the only names remaining on the list I am accumulating, that are
still orphans, with no country of origin attributed to them. Can anyone
answer to this?

A-Shih-Mo-Chieh-P'o
Agdsten,
Barnsten,
Fehg
Fuling
Fung Chi
Hsiang P'o
Kah Ruba
Kao Li
Ming P'o
Nan P'o
Poh She
Rav
Shih Chien
Sung Chi
Trnagrahin
Tun Mou
Wo Kuoh

Thank You!

Inge J. Whelan
e-mail: inge.whelan@eds.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: RE: Amber, and what it is called in different countries
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 11:03:51 -0400
From: "Whelan, Inge J" <inge.whelan@eds.com>
To: "'Thomas Albert'" <wolfram2112@yahoo.com>
CC: "'amber@d20.co.edu'" <amber@d20.co.edu>

Many Thanks, Tom! That certainly helps!

Inge

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Natural Green Baltic Amber (photo)
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 10:18:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Andzia Chmil <pocztowa@yahoo.com>
To: amber@d20.co.edu

Hello all,

Here is a photo of natural green Baltic amber beads.
My source in Lithuania says this about natural green
amber: "It is very rare, so much so, that we will not
size it to specifications. Rather, we produce as many
products from the chunk of raw that it will
accomodate."

It can be clear, opaque or both. The inclusions,
mostly plant and insect materials, for the most part,
tend to be dark.

The list has been so interesting of late! Keep those
cardds and letters coming!

Cheers,

Andzia

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Re: Natural Green Baltic Amber (photo)
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 21:24:44 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: pocztowa@yahoo.com, amber@d20.co.edu

Very nice photo! Thanks!

Tammi

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Germany Shows Amber Room Furniture
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 20:44:19 -0500
From: jfudala <jfudala@home.com>
Organization: @Home Network
To: amber@d20.co.edu

http://home-news.excite.com/news/ap/000419/13/int-germany-amber-room

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Green Baltic Amber? Photo
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:29:48 +0200
From: "plobxr" <plobxr@tin.it>
To: "ambra gruppo discussione" <amber@d20.co.edu>

Hello all,
Is this geen amber?
The image, recto verso, is obtained with the scanner and the "geen amber" is
compared to two normal batic amber.
The piece contains many vegetables inclusions tending to the black one, and
is semi-trasparent.
Ciao a tutti
Gianfranco Rocchini
Italy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Processed green beads
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 12:38:28 +0900
From: Peter Werp/Ruta Verp <drmcthr@iac.co.jp>
Organization: Int'l Tech. Enter., Ltd./AmberRuta
To: Amber List <amber@d20.co.edu>

All,
Here's some just made greenish beads from Lithuania, i.e., they are not natural......
Peter Werp
Tokyo, Japan

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Processed green baltic beads
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 12:41:21 +0900
From: Peter Werp/Ruta Verp <drmcthr@iac.co.jp>

Organization: Int'l Tech. Enter., Ltd./AmberRuta
To: plobxr <plobxr@tin.it>
CC: ambra gruppo discussione <amber@d20.co.edu>

All,
Here's some just made greenish beads from Lithuania, i.e., they are not
natural......
Peter Werp
Tokyo, Japan

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Re: Processed green beads
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 07:18:55 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: drmcthr@iac.co.jp, amber@d20.co.edu

This photo looks more like the green amber that I have seen - the heat
treated variety. Still pretty, but just not natural.

Tammi

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Countries' Names for AMBER
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 07:28:43 -0400
From: "Whelan, Inge J" <inge.whelan@eds.com>
To: "'amber@d20.co.edu'" <amber@d20.co.edu>

Greetings!

Here's the list, that was started and grew and grew, thanks to everyone's
contributions. Only one remains unallocated, from the original starting
list, and that is "Trnagrahin". Anyone willing to tackle this?

Also, those countries which should have appeared with their names for amber,
because of their proximity to the Baltic, but which are also absent, are:
Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, Finland ...... does anyone know their amber
terminology?

You'll note also, that some of the amber terms have 2 countries associated
with them. I included both, because of what was sent to me.

It is very likely that many of the amber terms will be closely related,
either by pronunciation or by geographical closeness. This is only language
evolution, which occurs constantly in our ever mobile population.

If anyone would like to post this list on an a web site, please feel free to
do so, since I do not have a site of my own.

Thanks, loads, to everyone who wrote to me.

I'm starting to make up lists which are less important , but interesting in
the 'Poetic' and 'Amusing' genre.

Toodles!

Inge Whelan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A-Shih-Mo-Chieh-P'o: China
Agdsten: Yiddish (from any of the many places, the Jewish culture settled)
Ambar: Spain (also linked to an Arabic word, from which amber is derived)
Amber: English-speaking Countries
Ambra: Italy
Ambre: France
Anbernen: Ancient Belgian term, meaning 'to burn'
Barnsten: Sweden
Barnsteen: South Africa (Afrikaans)
Barnsten: Yiddish (from any of the many places, the Jewish culture settled)
Berenikis: Greece, (A historic reference to a blonde-haired queen Berenice
II, wife of king Tolomeo Eurgete)
Bernstein: Germany (meaning stone that burns)
Burshtinen: Yiddish, used as an adjective
Bursztyn: Poland
Captured Sunshine, (Poetic)
Dzintars: Latvia
Elektron: Latin (Ancient Greek, possibly meaning 'bright material'; more
accurately due to negative electrical charge acquired by friction; a basis
for our word 'electricity')
Fehg: China
Fossil Resin: Standard term
Freja's Tears: Poetic, Nordic
Fuling: China
Fung Chi: China
Gintaras: Lithuania
Glessum, Glesum: (Per E. Ragazzi, ancient German term, reported by Latin
author Tacito; English term 'glass' possibly evolved from this)
Hardened Honey: (Poetic)
Harpaks: Ancient Syria
Hsiang P'o: China
Hu Po: China, Poetic term - 'Tiger's Soul'
Huh P'o: China , Poetic term - 'Tears of the Tiger'
Jantar: Poland
Kah Ruba: India
Karabe: Ancient Italian: taken fromArabic term meaining "material that
attracts straw", alluding to the electrostatic properties of amber
Kehribar: Turkey
Kehruba: Turkey (poetic meaning of 'straw thief')
Kao Li: China
Kohaku: Japan
Langurium, Lyncurium: Latin, from lincurio meaning 'urine of lynx' -
formerly believed as condensed urine of Lynx & also associated with Liguria,
a region of Italy where amber was supposed to be found
Merevaik: Estonia
Ming P'o: China
Nan P'o: China
Gold: (Poetic)
Petrified Light: (Poetic)
Poh She: Tibet, Korea
Pterygophon: (Ancient Greek, meaning 'material that attracts feathers',
erferring to electrostatic properties of amber)
Rav: India
Retinite: (Minerological name for amber NOT containing succinic acid)
Sacrium: Ancient Scizia from the Jutland region we now know as Denmark
Sea Gold: (Poetic)
Shih Chien: China
Soukinos: ancient Greek for amber (juice), deriving from Latin succinum
Succinite: Mineralogical name of amber fromBaltic, since succininc acid is
contained therein
Succino: Ancient Italian, translation of succinum
Succinum: Latin (Meaning 'juice')
Sun Tears: Poetic
Sung Chi: China
Tears of the Heliades: Poetic, Greek
Tiger's Soul: Poetic, Asian
Trnagrahin:
Tun Mou: China, Viet Nam
Wo Kuoh: China, Korea
Yantar: Russia, Bielorus, Ukraine, etc.
Yainitar: Phoenicia

Inge J. Whelan
Client Services
Joint Improvement Program
Phone: [613] 726-2573
e-mail: inge.whelan@eds.com

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Subject: NOT so serious amber monikers!
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 09:35:50 -0400
From: "Whelan, Inge J" <inge.whelan@eds.com>
To: amber@d20.co.edu

Hi!

As promised, here are some humorous names for amber and copal. Thanks to Jim
West who gave me a prelude listing; have you heard of other, funny amber
references?

Bug Keeper
Contrary Copal
Petrified Pitch
Pitch from the Past,
Prehistoric Plastic,
Primeval Pitch,
Really Old Resin,
Religious Resin,
Resinous Reliquary, (sort of the same as religious resin)
Sacred Sap,

Have fun!

Inge J. Whelan
e-mail: inge.whelan@eds.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Amber names
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 19:40:14 -0700
From: "Christopher Albrecht" <cjalbrecht@email.msn.com>
To: <amber@d20.co.edu>

Howdy,

Lituania is Gintaras (it means to protect)
Denmark is Rav
Norway is Raf
Finland is Merikivi (it means "sea stone")

I just happened to know a bunch of these. Feel free to ask some more. I know
a lot of different languages.

Pax et Bonum,
Chris Albrecht
USA

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Re: More Amber Names
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 22:09:32 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: cjalbrecht@email.msn.com, amber@d20.co.edu

And Inge, if you have any contacts on that Canadian amber that Chris has
asked about, I'm interested too! Chris, you teach 4th grade - I guess you
know that's about the perfect grade level to teach! 4th graders are
wonderful. What do they think about your amber, and have you developed any
lesson plans or curriculum that you work with in class? I'd be interested to
know their reactions and how they learn from it.

Tammi Johnson

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: (no subject)
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 23:50:39 EDT
From: MICK062395@cs.com
To: amber@d20.co.edu

Hello to everyone from around the world,
Here is my problem. My wife is a VERY BIG DINOSAUR and everything
prehistoric collector.She has almost everything from the cheap to the very
expensive stuff. Well not only is Amber her name, but her favorite as well.
Anyway for several years she has been looking for a varved amber dinosaur on
a silverchain.i have been everywhere,
and alas my search has been in vein. If any of you have or could make me one,
You and I would be truely Blessed.thank you to Tammy for giving me this link.
I need it by the end of Mayto the middle of June our Anniversary.
Thank you all for your time. Hopefully one of you will be able to help
me.
SIncerely,
Michael B. DeCAMP
Harker Heights TX
USA

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: More Amber Names
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 21:53:34 -0700
From: "Christopher Albrecht" <cjalbrecht@email.msn.com>
To: <amber@d20.co.edu>

OK Inge,

This has tested my international limits but I have 12 more amber names not
on the list. Here we go...

African (Ashanti Tribe): Nka Pa - (Don't ask how I know this)
Arabic: Kahroba (it means raw rubber)
Armenian: Sot
Egyptian: Sekal
Present Greek: Ambrosia (there are a few greek versions)
Hebrew: Ghashmal (Say it quick and someone may say "Bless you")
Hungarian: Borostyan
Portuguese: Alambre
Romanian: Chihlinbar
Spanish: Succina (ambar is another)
Thai: Ching Peh
Ukranian: Borostyan

I am a 4th grade teacher. The best way to find information is to offer extra
credit. My forth graders came up with these. I checked them all and they are
all valid.

Inge, where in Canada are you? my class wanted to know if they could obtain
a sample of Canadian amber from you. I belive there were to strikes in the
Alberta and Manitoba areas. Let me know.

God bless you,
Chris Albrecht
Rochester, NY

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Subject: Green amber?
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 07:31:02 +0200
From: "plobxr" <plobxr@tin.it>
To: "ambra gruppo discussione" <amber@d20.co.edu>

Hallo all,
Is this green amber?
The image, recto verso, is obtained with the scanner and te "green amber" is
compared to two normal baltic amber.
The piece contains many vegetables inclusions tending to the black one, and
it is semi-trasparent.
Ciao
Gianfranco Rocchini

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Subject: Re: (no subject)
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 07:02:23 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: MICK062395@cs.com, amber@d20.co.edu

Okay folks, this plea for a small carved dinosaur is a sincere one, and I can
feel his pain. Patricia, in your carved stock, you got anything like a small
carved dino in amber? Can anybody help this poor man to put a twinkle in the
eye of the woman he loves? I sure hope someone can come through, and if
there's more than one little dino I might be interested in buying its brother
or sister. Good luck Michael!

Tammi

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Subject: Re: (no subject)
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 09:53:54 EDT
From: LCa7854796@aol.com
To: amber@d20.co.edu

I don't know if Patricia has anything, but Pamela has already contacted Mr.
Mick and we are in negotiations regarding a certain small T. Rex!
Anyone else out there have a request for something special carved in amber?
Pamela
Carved Opal and Obsidian

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Subject: RE: More Amber Names
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 09:02:39 -0500
From: "Whelan, Inge J" <inge.whelan@eds.com>

To: "'Christopher Albrecht'" <cjalbrecht@email.msn.com>
CC: amber@d20.co.edu

Chris,

Thank you for all the new names! I'll resend the new list to the amberites.

As to my location, well! Although our city was once under an ancient sea,
I've heard of no amber finds in the Ottawa area; but who knows, it would
take only money and a quest to explore that possibility. I don't know the
geological makeup. There is a lot of clay in the area and shell and simple,
ancient coral fossils have been found here. You can still go around the area
and pick up the odd stone with tiny fossils showing.

I don't know about Manitoban amber. The Canadian amber that I know of, and
unfortunately I have no samples, was found in our 'Badlands' of Alberta, in
and amongst the dinosaur bones. Actually, Tammi J. pointed to Canadian amber
from Alberta in an earlier e-mail, and although I was in Banff, Alberta last
month, I didn't get to either Drumheller, which is right at the badlands, or
to the Royal Tyrell Museum, to speak with Paleontologist Phil Currie, who
would probably steer you in the right direction. It may be some time before
I return that way, so anyone who has a yen for Canadian amber, can start in
Drumheller, Alberta.

Also, I have heard of Canadian amber in the Sydney, Nova Scotia area, where
coal is still being mined; so anywhere there is hard fossil fuel like coal,
is a possible location for amber, I would think. This would be a good
theory to explore or discount. I wonder if they ever found amber in
Belgium? Before emigrating to Canada, we spent several months in a coal
mining area near Charlerois. Could be Verrry Interesting!

Bonne Chance!

Inge

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Subject: Re: Dino Amber
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 12:29:47 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: LCa7854796@aol.com, amber@d20.co.edu

Wow, I'm impressed and proud that you can come through for our dino-hungry
fellow! What other small, pendant size carvings do you have and what are the
price ranges?

Tammi

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Subject: Re: More Amber Names
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 12:33:45 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: inge.whelan@eds.com, cjalbrecht@email.msn.com
CC: amber@d20.co.edu

Inge, the possibility of amber in Sydney, NS exists, but let me relate an
embarrasing story (omitting names of professionals, of course). I have a
friend in Glace Bay, a few miles from Sydney, who met a fella who thought he
found amber is a coal seam. We went through the proper channels and were in
the process of getting the pieces tested, a paper written and in hopes of
awakening the world to the oldest Carboniferous (and largest!) deposit in the
world - until we found out it was bolting resin used to help support the
rooves of mines. The stuff looks like golden amber, and is injected with the
bolts to secure ceilings. We were quite shocked, dumbfounded and hurt that
our discovery was scrapped, but the stuff fooled the professionals. Anyway,
we learned from our experience and are not giving up! Such is life, eh?

Tammi

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Subject: RED particles in Baltic amber
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 12:28:24 +0900
From: Peter Werp/Ruta Verp <drmcthr@iac.co.jp>
Organization: Int'l Tech. Enter., Ltd./AmberRuta
To: Amber List <amber@d20.co.edu>

All,
Could those red things be ...yes!.....pollen
spores?
Peter Werp
Tokyo, Japan

<img width=255 height=279 border=2
src=../listserv/pollen.jpg>

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Subject: Re: RED particles in Baltic amber
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 10:03:57 +0200
From: Eugenio Ragazzi <ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it>

To: amber@d20.co.edu

At 12.28 28/04/00 +0900, you wrote:
>All,
>Could those red things be ...yes!.....pollen
>spores?
>Peter Werp
>Tokyo, Japan

Peter,
I found pollen embedded in several kinds of amber. My colleague Dr. Guido
Roghi (with whom I have been currently studying Trias amber) is a
paleo-palynologist and he also described several species of fossil pollen in
amber and in amber-bearing sediment.
>From the image you sent it is difficult to say if the inclusions are really
pollen. I can say that usually the size of pollen grains is about 20-60
microns in diameter; the larger size could be around 100 microns. Often it
is difficult to observe pollen inside amber through high magnification, but
if the pollen is sufficiently close to the surface it is possible.
For nice images of pollen in amber take a look at this web page:
http://home.t-online.de/home/Arnold-Heide/ebrnmikr.htm

Alternatively, the red particles you found in amber could be liquid
inclusions, or even microorganisms (protista, algae; in some cases I found
even remains of nucleus and intracellular structures); again, a higher
magnification is necessary to solve the question.

Regards

Eugenio

Eugenio Ragazzi, M.D.
Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology
Department of Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology
University of Padova
Largo E. Meneghetti, 2
I-35131 Padova (Italy)
e-mail: ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it
fax: +39-049-827.5093 phone: +39-049-827.577

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Subject: RED particles x800
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 17:40:03 +0900
From: Peter Werp/Ruta Verp <drmcthr@iac.co.jp>
Organization: Int'l Tech. Enter., Ltd./AmberRuta
To: Eugenio Ragazzi <ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it>
CC: amber@d20.co.edu

All,
Watch this space for red particles @ 800x color magnification (a friend has a
$30,000 unit!).
Peter Werp
Tokyo, Japan

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Subject: Re: RED particles in Baltic amber
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 07:14:20 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: ragazzi@ux1.unipd.it, amber@d20.co.edu

Peter, whatever these particles are, they add another dimension to its
beauty. Get the thing under a stereomicroscope and have a look. Let us know
what you see.

Tammi

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Subject: RE: RED particles in Baltic amber
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 10:14:21 -0400
From: "Whelan, Inge J" <inge.whelan@eds.com>
To: "'Peter Werp/Ruta Verp'" <drmcthr@iac.co.jp>
CC: amber@d20.co.edu

Now THAT is a beautiful piece of amber! Call me crazy, if you will, but this
is my favourite type of amber and I'd like to know more about it. What
causes it to be veined with the white, milky streaks? Does this amber come
from a different time than the clear, cognac-coloured amber? Is it from a
different resin? Is it found in other regions, than the Baltic area? Do you
know if there is anyone selling this type of amber (with or without
inclusions of pollen, debris or other)?

Any information you can give me would be appreciated?

Inge J. Whelan
e-mail: inge.whelan@eds.com

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Subject: change of e-mail address

+++++++
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 21:36:57 EDT
From: "Yale Goldman" <snakefly99@hotmail.com>
To: rocks-and-fossils@world.std.com
CC: amber@d20.co.edu

Dear Reader,

This to let you know I've changed my e-mail address. My NEW e-mail address
is Snakefly99@hotmail.com

Sincerely,

Yale Goldman
The Dead Bug in Amber Club
http://Snakefly.tripod.com/

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Subject: Landscape amber
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 11:05:57 +0900
From: Peter Werp/Ruta Verp <drmcthr@iac.co.jp>

Organization: Int'l Tech. Enter., Ltd./AmberRuta
To: Amber List <amber@d20.co.edu>, inge.whelan@eds.com

All,
Some baltic amber pieces look like a landscape painting. In the below image of a nice pendant made
with tan/white
leather, this yellow/white mixed color type amber is called "royal amber" in Lithuania. I don't
know why the milky
swirls are present, anyone?
Peter Werp
Tokyo, Japan

<img width=216 height=234 border=2
src=../listserv/nsmail2P.jpeg>

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Subject: Re: Landscape amber
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 09:16:07 EDT
From: TGETQuest@aol.com
To: drmcthr@iac.co.jp, amber@d20.co.edu, inge.whelan@eds.com

Wow Peter! What a beautiful piece! As for the milky swirls, those are
microscopic air bubbles in the amber. Those bubbles come in different sizes
and concentrations and do produce some beautiful effects. I have a piece of
amber that resembles a tiger eye, dark on both sides and a milky streak down
the middle. It now resides in a pendant. Some is entirely frothy and can be
called custard amber, creamy or milky amber - there are a plethora of names
that come with the ambers of opaque quality. When I get a chance, I'll take
some shots of stuff we have and let you see.

Tammi

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Subject: Re: Landscape amber
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 11:09:41 -0400
From: "Lester Sayetta" <sayless@sprintmail.com>
To: <TGETQuest@aol.com>, <drmcthr@iac.co.jp>, <amber@d20.co.edu>, <inge.whelan@eds.com>

Hello All...

I have a few pieces of interest to share with you, that would fit into the
"landscape amber" category. The amber people I have dealt with in Germany
and Denmark call it "fatty" amber, but whatever it is called, it looks good
enough to eat.

The first pic is a pendant from the Dominican Republic. There is more clear
space in the amber here, than is generally found in the Baltic ambers. ( I
am selling this one on ebay)

The second pic is a "hear no evil" carving from Germany, and done in the
fatty amber.

And the third pic is an angelfish from Denmark.

ENJOY.

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Subject: Re: Landscape amber
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 13:30:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: Thomas Albert <wolfram2112@yahoo.com>

To: Lester Sayetta <sayless@sprintmail.com>, TGETQuest@aol.com, drmcthr@iac.co.jp,
amber@d20.co.edu, inge.whelan@eds.com

Hi All,

Another name for the "fatty" amber is Mutton amber.

Tom

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Subject: amber
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 14:37:45 -0600
From: "Michael Schmidt" <dmschmidt@sprint.ca>
To: <amber@d20.co.edu>

Hello,

I am new to the list. My name is Michael and I live in Canada.

My purpose for writing today is that I am looking for a VERY inexpensive
source of insect included amber.......bulk material.

What I need are pieces of amber, hopefully in lots of 100 or 1000 pieces,
that are polished or windowed and have at least a partial insect in them.

Location does not matter. I am not interested in copal.

I need to get bulk material as cheaply as possible.

Any help??

Thanks in advance....

Michael