AMBER, in mineralogy, a resinous sub. stance, called by the ancients electrum, found in different countries but most abundantly' Prussia, either on the sea shore, or under ground, at the depth of 100 feet, reposing on wood coal. It is ob. tained in lumps of different sizes. There arc the white and the yellow amber. 1. The white amber is in colour striw-yel low, inclining to yellowish white ; but 2, The yellow amber is a wax-yellow pass ing to a honey-yellow, yellowish brown, and hyacinth-red. It is found in blunt pieces, with a rough surface. It is rather brittle, and its specific gravity is from 1.07 to LOS. Amber burns with a vellow-co loured flame, and, if the heat be strong enough, melts, and emits a peen] i agree able odour, and leaves little ashes. When rubbed, it acquires a strong negative elec trical 'virtue. From this property is de rived the word electricity. It is com posed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Amber is often found in the alluvial de posit (usually called Marie) of New-Jer sey. According to Sir J. Hill, it is said that amber has been found in digging in to the alluvial land in the vicinity of Lon don. It is found sometimes on the sea shores ofseveral parts of England. Being susceptible of a fine polish, it is cut into necklaces, bracelets, snuff-boxes, and other articles of dress. Before the discove ry of the diamond and other precious stones of India, it was conside red. to be the most precious of jewels, and was employ ed in all kinds of ornamental dress: altars were likewise ornamented with it. The greatest quantity at present consumed in commerce is purchased by Armenian and Grecian merchants, for the use, it is con jectured, of pilgrims, previously to their journey to Mecca, and that on their ar rival there it is burnt in honour of the pro phet Mahomet. The acid and oil obtain
ed from it are used as medicines.
If often contains insects ofvarious spe cies, in a state of complete preservation, also leaves, and other parts of vegetables. Various conjectures have been made re specting its origin and formation. By some it is, as we have already seen, con sidered as a vegetable gum or resin ; others regard it as a mineral oil, thicken ed by the absorption of oxygen; and Mr. Parkinson is of opinion, that it is inspissa ted mineral oil. There was lately found in Prussia a mass of amber which weighed upwards of 13 pounds, the contents of which amounted to inches. Five thousand dollars are said to have been offered for it ; and the Armenian merchants assert, that in Constantinople it would sell for six times that price at least. Pitch-coal is sometimes found with amber, and is called black, and is sold to the ignorant at a great price. Spe cimens inclosing insects, &c. are highly valued, and the amber-dealers are said to be possessed of means of softening it in order to introduce insects and other fo reign bodies into it. Two parts of the empyreumatic oil obtained by distilling mineral pitch boiled several times, with three parts of turpentine, form a com pound, which bears a great resemblance to amber, and which is often cut into necklaces and other ornaments, and sold as true amber.