What is burstin? Definition, origin and properties

"What is burshtyn?" Is a very often asked question, and the people who ask it, somewhere even on a subconscious level know the answer to it, at least this word seems to them painfully familiar. And this is not surprising, because few people have ever heard of amber, but it will be about him.

The name of amber: where did it come from?

Now, when it became clear what exactly this burshtyn is, translation is not required, it is only necessary to note that the word is taken from the Ukrainian and Belarusian languages. But the more familiar for all the name "amber" came in Russian from Lithuanian, it sounds like gintäras and came into use relatively recently. But of course, not Lithuanians discovered and named this beautiful stone, it was known to many peoples since ancient times, and the honor of its name is attributed to the Arabs. When this happened, it is not known for certain, but it was under the Arabic name anbar that the Romans recognized it as an ambre, and a little later, transformed into amber, this word entered into other European languages.

The origin of amber: from legends to scientific justification

So, figuring out what Burshtyn is and where its name comes from, it's worth talking about where it came from, and it's even more interesting. The Arabs who gave him the name seriously believed that amber was nothing but the dew that had hardened in the sun from the paradise gardens, which fell from heaven as a reward to the righteous.

The first person who expressed the opinion that amber somehow relates to the resin of coniferous trees was the "learned" husband of the ancient Hellas, Aristotle. Later, the idea that the burshtyn was a "stone of wood" was picked up by Theophrastus and Pliny.

However, neither of them presented any evidence of this, nor any justification for this version, and did not even attempt to do so. And it is not surprising therefore that for 2000 years all this remained just a version, and the dark minds of the Middle Ages gave birth and multiplied a lot of legends. For the first time the idea voiced by Aristotle received scientific confirmation already in the middle of the 18th century, proved by the most enlightened people of his time Karl Linney and Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov.

The appearance of amber: what is it?

It is possible, of course, not to know what a burstin is, but it is simply impossible not to know what it looks like, everyone ever saw it, held it in their hands, tried on themselves. But very few people know that there are several varieties of amber, which differ significantly in density, transparency, color and many other characteristics. Usually, an amber stone has in its body microscopic voids, formed by the ingress of air into it, making it seemingly porous, and the more such, the worse its quality, although visually it looks very beautiful.

There are 5 main types of this wonderful stone, all of them either completely different from each other, or similar very distantly, nevertheless it is the same old kind amber burshtyn:

1. Bone - the most resistant type of amber, it is completely opaque and looks very much like an ivory, from where it got its name.

2. Bastard is the second most dense cavity, also opaque and has no special value, but it is perfect for polishing and is the best among the brethren, but only for a variety of handicrafts.

3. Cloudy - a very beautiful stone, but also not particularly valuable, has a translucent structure, often "foggy" veins and a bright, rich color.

4. Foamy is the worst quality of all varieties, quite beautiful due to the abundant impregnations of air, making it somewhat similar to pumice.

5. Transparent - the most valuable among the above, devoid of the smallest cavities, the only one of all types of amber, related to the precious stones of the highest class. Often in his body are prehistoric insects, such specimens are valued above all.

Application of amber: properties and products

Now it's not even so important what burshtyn is and what it is, it's more important to use it in the modern world, and it's just amazing how important and multifunctional it is. Amber all over the world is used to make very beautiful, but unfortunately not very long-lasting handicrafts, the problem is that when contact with open air there is an inevitable oxidation process. This formulation seems somewhat strange applies to the stone, but do not forget that it is still not a crystal, unlike other precious and semiprecious stones. From transparent amber make fine jewelry, valued as much as jewelry made from rubies and sapphires. Less quality amber products are used to make luxury haberdashery and luxury jewelry. In limited proportions it is used in the manufacture of electronics, it has long become an integral part of pharmaceutical and perfume products, but what is most interesting, even the food industry!

Amber deposits: the sad consequences of total extraction

In fact, there are very few such places on the whole planet, every year its reserves are depleted, and the price of the Sun Stone is constantly growing. According to experts' estimates, only for the last 70 years of uninterrupted amber mining its deposits fell by about 11%, and this is an irreparable loss for future generations. And it does not matter how it is called - amber, Bernstein, burshtyn, the translation no longer makes sense - its reserves are depleted. There are only a few places around the world, 80% of which fill the market for this wonderful stone:

1. Russia - the Kaliningrad region, the Far Eastern region.

2. Ukraine - Rivne and Volyn region.

3. Greenland is the island of Chora.

4. Alaska is the port of Barrow.

Minor deposits of amber are available on the island of Sicily, in Burma and in Mexico.