Description
Amber (incorrectly also called amber) is a fossilized resin derived from coniferous trees. These trees were often referred to by the scientific species name Pinus succinifera, a still-living pine species. The resin dripped from the trees millions of years ago and then fossilized. Amber dates from the Mesozoic to the Quaternary. Amber is usually warm yellow to dark red in color, but there are also more green, blue, or even black varieties. Transparent amber is generally considered the most beautiful and the most valuable. Mineralogically speaking, amber has an amorphous structure. It is relatively soft, with a hardness of 2-2.5. The word amber—in German, Bernstein—comes from the Low Saxon word börnen, meaning to burn. Indeed, this semi-precious stone is flammable. Amber is called amber in English. In Dutch, amber usually refers to the color amber. A substance from the intestines of the sperm whale is also called amber. This substance has a strong odor and is used in perfumes. The fact that many insects are found in amber did not escape the notice of the Romans either. They explained this (correctly) by assuming that amber was liquid when it covered the insects. Therefore, they called the stone succinum, or gum-stone. The name still occurs today in succinic acid, in the scientific name for the pine species Pinus succinifera, and also in succinite, a name given by James Dwight Dana to a specific type of amber that comes from the Baltic Sea region. A common group of land snails are the amber snails. They are so named because of the amber-yellow color of their shells. The scientific name of an amber snail species is Succinea putris. Amber becomes electrically charged by rubbing it against animal fur. For this reason, the term "electricity" is derived from the Greek word for amber, elektron (Latin: electrum). In Greek mythology, the god Helios one day allowed his son Phaeton to drive the sun's chariot. But Phaeton couldn't control the horses, causing the sun to scorch heaven and earth. This is how the people of Ethiopia acquired their dark complexion. To save the earth, Zeus threw his thunderbolt at Phaeton, causing him to fall dead. Phaeton's sisters, the Heliades, mourned him. Their tears trickled down and solidified into amber. The Greek mythological figure Electra is identified with amber. The Greek word for amber is "elektron" (ηλεκτρον), from which our word "electricity" derives, because, according to the Greeks, amber came from the amber islands located at the mouth of the legendary amber river in the far north, the Eridanos.
The most beautiful minerals, fossils, and gemstones from Madagascar. Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar and formerly known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation consists of the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world) and numerous smaller outlying islands. It is a renowned diving and swimming destination and is famous for its high-quality gemstones mined from its soil and rocks. We at Timmersgems are proud to say that we are the second-largest importer of Madagascan gemstones in Europe, just behind a French company. Every year, we fill at least three large containers with the finest gemstones, minerals, and buffalo horns. If you take a look in our webshop and showroom, you will find a wide range of labradorite, amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, and many other varieties. We do business with 17 small family businesses on the island. This way, we can guarantee that you will find the best and most beautiful gemstones and minerals. We have also supported these families since the beginning of our business 35 years ago. We have lost our hearts to the island, its people, and its products. It is a wonderful thing to visit the island every year and find the best stones and minerals for you. Madagascar's natural resources include a range of unprocessed agricultural products and minerals, including raffia, fishing, and forestry, and are a mainstay of the economy. Madagascar is one of the world's leading suppliers of vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang. Other important agricultural resources include coffee, lychees, and shrimp. Important mineral resources include various types of precious and semi-precious stones, and Madagascar currently provides half of the world's supply of sapphires, which were discovered near Ilakaka in the late 1990s. The island also has one of the largest reserves of ilmenite (titanium ore), as well as significant reserves of chromite, coal, iron, cobalt, copper, and nickel. Several major projects are underway in the mining, oil, and gas sectors, and these are expected to provide a significant boost to the Madagascan economy. These include projects such as Rio Tinto's ilmenite and zircon mining of heavy mineral sands near Tolanaro. Madagascar is a very poor country with abundant flora and fauna. In Madagascar, you can encounter 400 plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. The minerals blue celestite, labradorite, and polychrome and ocean jasper are also found only in Madagascar.
