Amber Listserv / Amberguous

[Andy Ng]

Kirk,

It may be 'borderline' amber, but then again would not the 2 or 3 inch layer
of amberized resin have effectively prevented the inside of the piece from
turning into amber? I seriously doubt that the volatile elements of resin
have much of a chance of escaping thru the amberized layer, unless there are
cracks or the piece is broken up by natural forces.

How many people would be willing to hacksaw thru a nice hefty polished chunk
of 'amber' just to see if its innermost parts are also amberized? My point
is simple: just because the external portion of a piece passes the hot
needle/acetone/salt water tests, it doesn't mean that the entire piece is
amber. Copal may lurk in its depths.

I think I can already hear the gnashing of teeth as amber dealers worldwide
are collectively wishing this loudmouth from Borneo would shut up. Did he
really have to go open a new can of worms? :-P It's not my purpose to cast
dark doubts over this industry (which I'm a part of). Rather, it's an
attempt to simplify and clarify matters. With concerns of the end-consumer
in mind, I say this:

We live in an age where the ingenuity of man allows copal to be turned into
amber on a mass-production basis, and fake inclusions/tree-resin substitutes
abound in the market. If the consumer wishes to possess genuine and
untreated fossilized tree resin, buy it in rough form with the crust still
on. If one buys it in any other form, well...ya pays yer money and ya takes
yer chances.

BTW, nifty website you have there Kirk!

Andy



On 7/12/06, kirk stephan <kirkstephan at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> *Andy, Doesn't that sound as if the material was on the 'borderline' time
> period for metamorphing from Copal to amber? kirk*
>
>
> *'Invite to my site,of course< http://geocities.com/kirkstephany/tools.htm
> *
>
>
> ------------------------------
> From: *"Andy Ng" <andy.ng.aik.hoe at gmail.com>*
> To: *amber <amber at ambericawest.com>*
> Subject: *Amber Listserv / Amberguous*
> Date: *Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:01:28 +0800*
>
> "Ahh I see, said the blind man to the ice-cream seller."
>
> I guess it was only you posting, Glen. Thanks so much for your response. I
> had been meaning to reply to your post on the copal vs amber debate, but
> wanted to make sure the listserv was chugging along properly first.
>
> What would you make of this scenario: a piece of amber (about 9 inches to
> a foot thick) tests positive as amber by its resistance to acetone doused on
> it. BUT when sawn open and has the exposed innards splashed with acetone, is
> marred like a copal? Amber on the outside, copal on the inside.
>
> Andy
>
>
>
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>
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