Amber Listserv / Ambersafari 2008

[TOM BUCKLEY]

John,

    As always, you lead the most glamberous life of this bunch. One question.....I thought Lebanese amber was preserved using the 2-part epoxy and vacuum system? What this about using Canadian Balsam and glass? Sounds a bit easier.

Tom
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JOHN FUDALA 
  To: amber at ambericawest 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:50 PM
  Subject: Amber Listserv / Ambersafari 2008


  Hello folks, as usual I will try in few words describe for you my recent, amber related experiences.

  I was fortunate enough to be at Amberif fair in Gdansk, Poland, again this year. 
  And in the week preceding it I visited Lebanon for ambersafari 2008.

  Let me tell you! What a beautiful country, breath taking scenery- mere 2 hours by car from sea beaches, banana plantations and orange trees to snow covered mountains where we drove thru canyons plowed in the snow.
  I can not have enough words of appreciation for the friendly Lebanese people I have met. From the early wee hours ride from the airport thru empty streets of Beirut in an awesome 40 years old Mercedes, to the almost 1000 km we rode in the two cars I rented there.
  I visited prof. Danny Azar in his office at the Lebanese University and saw his huge collection of raw amber and inclusions. I got a primer on how to cut out inclusions from amber pieces, to prepare the specimen in canada balsam between the pieces of glass for optimal viewing and preservation -literally forever. In fact, dr Szwedo confirmed that he worked on recovered 70 year old collection of inclusions in baltic amber and in some specimen preserved in that way, under broken glass, the canada balsam was still wet and the inclusions in prime shape.
  I was able to visit some collecting sites in several areas, mainly Dahr el Baidar, Jezzine. Hammana area is where amber was collected by Aftim Acra, I have some amber from that historical site.
  It is easy to follow the geological structures exposed, but knowledge where one can and can not go is essential. Lebanon's difficult political situation of past decades has resulted in areas that are still mined. Recent bombings also left behind unexploded areal bombs, in fact one was laying just behind a road curve from a site we collected amber at. If only I had more than the four days I was there... it takes some time to train your eyes to recognise the amber in matrix, or even to spot loose pieces in certain areas.
  It is possible to collect more than a kilo from a spot in any given day. Or nothing at all. 135 milion years old amber, so rich in inclusions.
  Unique insects, even lizards. You bet I will be back to that unique country. For now I have some rough material left to inspect.
  I have shared some with the Museum of the Earth in Warsaw, as well as the Museum of Amber in Gdansk.
  Few trades at Amberif fair got me samples of amber from Syria, actual Sarawak mine amber from Borneo, new Baltic amber deposits in Belarus, retinites of Khatanga and Sakhalin from Siberia.

  Amberif fair was different this year. For one, I had my own stand (actually shared it with another person) and time flew by so fast I did not even see the whole place. There was a new building this year entirely for amber businesses as well as the original one.
  We had so much fun! All kinds of people stopping by. Strangers, like a guy who travelled thru Siberia and amber craftsmen, scientists we knew or got to know. Dr Weitschat or Mr. Hoffeins who can talk about amber and the inclusions forever and keep it so interesting all of the time. Prof. Szadziewski, prof. Kosmowska- Ceranowicz, dr Szwedo or dr Kupryjanowicz whose knowledge of inclusions is just staggering. Knowledge is one thing, but having a sharp eye is another. They spotted several very unique inclusions in both dominican and baltic amber.
  Dr Krumbiegel, dr Zobel from Canada, too many to list.
  Dr Sontag was awarded Amber Personality of the year 2007 award.

  I still have with me one very unique inclusion in Lebanese amber- 20th known Libanochlites (male) neocomicus Brundin (1976), it is the oldest chironomid in amber so far. And the only one in private hands. Here is a great paper on this: http://fossilinsects.net/pdfs/Oveltz169_191.pdf
  I had a great opportunity to display at the fair two new holotypes, both named for dr Jacek Szwedo. So new in fact, they have not been described in a paper yet. By now they are already back in the Museum of Earth (Warsaw) and the Museum of Amber Inclusions (Gdansk) collections.

  At the science seminars held every year during Amberif dr Sontag had a presentation about holotypes in their collections and the importance of their preservation. Prof. Ragazzi presented  the discoveries of Triassic amber from Dolomites and Eocene amber from Bolca (Lessini Mountains), both in Italy. By far the most interesting and informative presentation of this year! Also dr Maxim Bogdasarov presented information about amber finds in Belarus.
  Part two was about amber trading centre from Roman times, about rough amber supply fluctuations and an art concept for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
  The fashion gala at the Baltic Philharmonic was perhaps not as spectacular as in the past, but still very, very enjoyable. Maybe I am just getting used to it?
  I still liked designs by Dorota Kos. Her wood and amber pieces are modern, yet very pleasant at the same time.
  Most of my pictures, especially those from Lebanon are... on a laptop in Poland (sic)!
  Last minute disc burning was not as precise as I had hoped it to be...
  In any case I had a load of fun, met some great people and saw great places all of which I hope to see again. More info and more pictures will follow soon.

  John



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