Methods of Amber Extraction
Amber, often called the “sunstone,” ranks among the oldest gemstones humans have discovered. Primitive people adorned themselves with amber jewelry, and archaeologists have uncovered amber artifacts in burial sites across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Vikings, and Slavs treasured amber, sometimes even treating it as currency. Its popularity continues today, making it one of the most sought-after gemstones. However, crafting beautiful amber products begins with extracting raw amber. Let’s explore how miners extract amber.
Techniques for Amber Mining
For centuries, amber miners relied on unchanged tools and methods until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century introduced significant advancements. These innovations boosted extraction efficiency, reduced waste, and lowered environmental damage. Despite this progress, some regions still use traditional, low-tech methods.
Amber mining techniques fall into two categories: marine and land-based methods. Marine methods focus on collecting amber from the sea, while land-based methods include shaft mining and open-pit mining.
Marine Amber Mining
Shoreline collectors have long gathered amber pieces washed up by the tides. These small, dull fragments result from seawater exposure. Quick action is crucial, as the waves often reclaim the amber.
Amber fishing offers a more effective approach. Collectors scoop resin from the water’s surface because amber floats in salty water. On sunny days, amber becomes visible on the seabed. Workers use long poles (up to 8 meters) to loosen sediment, causing amber to float, and then retrieve it with nets.
Divers also recover amber from the seabed, though this approach proves risky and inefficient due to the Baltic Sea’s cold waters. Industrial dredgers can remove amber-rich sediment for processing, but this costly method causes significant environmental harm.
Land-Based Amber Mining
On land, miners traditionally use shafts or open pits to extract amber. Shaft mining remains common in the Dominican Republic, where amber deposits lie in mountainous regions. However, open-pit mining has become the dominant method today.
Steps in open-pit mining include:
- Surveying Amber-Bearing Layers: Miners locate “blue earth” layers at depths of 5 to 60 meters.
- Removing Overburden: Quarry excavators clear the overlying rock.
- Excavating Parent Rock: Workers extract amber-rich soil.
- Processing the Soil: Hydraulic monitors wash amber out of the soil.
- Cleaning and Sorting: Teams clean and sort the extracted amber.
Open-pit mining requires substantial costs, complex logistics, and significant energy. These challenges contribute to the high price of natural amber, reinforcing that genuine amber cannot be cheap.
Classification of Amber
Amber receives classification based on characteristics like color, transparency, inclusions, and overall quality. Its colors span yellow and orange to red, green, and blue. Transparency ranges from fully transparent to opaque. Inclusions, such as ancient insects or plant material, significantly increase an amber piece’s value.
At Whole Amber, our team carefully classifies each amber piece to ensure it meets rigorous quality standards and satisfies customer expectations.
Conclusion
Amber mining has evolved dramatically over time, blending modern methods with traditional techniques. These processes supply the raw material for creating cherished amber products. From shoreline collection to advanced open-pit mining, each method showcases amber’s timeless allure.
Whole Amber proudly continues this tradition by supplying authentic, high-quality amber in bulk to businesses worldwide. As a trusted wholesale supplier, we ensure every piece reflects this extraordinary gemstone’s natural beauty and heritage.
