Is it burmite?

[Aurelius]

I recently obtained this piece of amber, which was described as being from Myanmar, and therefore of cretaceous age. I got it very cheaply, I'd say (from a well known auction site), and this led another collector to rather rudely assert that it was fake. I have no reason to assume that it is fake, but at the same time, I'm having trouble proving that it's authentic.

 

 

When I poke it with a hot needle, the needle makes an impression but doesn't slice straight through it. Dark grey smoke rose from it, which didn't smell of plastic. When I rub it vigorously with a soft cloth, it gives off a mild resinous aroma, but doesn't get sticky. It floats in salty water, in the same way as my Dominican amber does (my Baltic amber slowly sank, but I suspect I didn't have enough salt in the water). I haven't been able to get it to hold a static charge, but then I can't with any of my amber, so I must be doing that all wrong.

 

I wouldn't normally post most of these pictures, because all but one qualify as photographic failures, but I've since re-polished the surfaces for future photography (my spare-room studio being out of action at present).

 

Note a seed (?) of some kind just above the antenna, near the top, and some kind of larva or something to the left of the millipede. 

 

 

That looks like a tiny beetle on the left hand side of this one.

 

 

General inclusions, including bubbles and an insect 'riding' on one, centre-right.

 

One of the pseudoscorpions.

 

 

There are various other inclusions too, including another pseudoscorpion and one tiny spider.

 

I don't see any way in which this is an out-and-out fake (e.g. plastic). So that leaves the possibility that it's authentic, or copal, or that it's amber with the insects inserted afterwards. I'm very doubtful of the later, because they are randomly placed in the amber and I don't see any signs of tampering. That would seem like a lot of effort for something sold for £35/$45.

 

It doesn't seem to have any of those little oak hair things that you get in Baltic amber. Not sure whether cretaceous amber, or copal, have those or not.

 

I'd welcome any thoughts on this. Thanks.

 

 

[ynot]

The one thing I have not heard of in fakes is the translucency that inclusions develop in amber.

The items in this have that translucent nature -- so I say it is real amber with insect and arthropod inclusions.

 

Nice and busy piece You got, congratulations.

[JohnBrewer]

I’ve only a few bits of amber with inclusions and I’m thinking it’s real. I don’t think a faker would put so much detritus in with the bugs etc. It’s a really cool piece if genuine. There is a forum member who has an outstanding collection of amber with inclusions and obviously knowledge. Can’t reme his/her name unfortunately. Maybe someone will know. 

 

Can I ask what you paid?

 

 

@Morten Øen

[JohnBrewer]

@vermiculosis

Just did a quick gallery search on amber and tagged two members.

[Kane]

I'm with John on this. It seems authentic, and you've already put it through the usual tests. This a lovely piece... I would be transfixed by it! Kudos to these photos as well (your "failures" would be triumphs for so many others!). This would make a very proud addition to any collection, methinks. Even cooler if you got it for a proverbial song! 

[Northern Sharks]

You may have to have some of the inclusions identified to confirm whether or not it is Burmite. I agree with the others in thinking it's a legit piece, but Baltic amber is a lot more common, and cheaper, than Burmite.

[WhodamanHD]

Very nice!

[Aurelius]

Thanks all. I'd begun to doubt myself on this one. I bought it from a company that specialises in minerals and gems from Myanmar, so I'm now tending towards believing that it's the real deal. I'll still try to find out for sure though; just have to hope I can find a relevant expert.

[Aurelius]

1 hour ago, JohnBrewer said:

Can I ask what you paid?

 

I paid the ridiculous sum of £30!

[Kane]

3 minutes ago, Aurelius said:

I paid the ridiculous sum of £30!

Wow. That is quite the deal. Congrats!

[Herb]

beautiful specimen

[JohnBrewer]

1 hour ago, Aurelius said:

I paid the ridiculous sum of £30!

You were robbed. I’ll cover your loss and will pay for shipping to the UK too.

[FossilDAWG]

That's an amazing piece!  It seems there is a whole world in there.   

Don

[Tidgy's Dad]

Wonderful, and I think the real McCoy. It's still possible to get bargains in this crazy world. 

[Taogan]

Nice piece and I think it is real. The price was very low, even a piece of Baltic amber that busy would normally sell at three times the price, so I can understand the suspicion. Maybe the burmite hunters are too busy looking for dinosaurs to bother about insects

[Oziya]

Thanks to the close up inclusion images it os very easy to confirm in this case that it is 100% real Hukawng amber. It is not always possible to be sure when looking at many photos but in this case it is very clear. Myanmar has many amber locations and it is possible to recognize that this piece comes from Hukawng Valley in Kachin State in the foothills of the Himalayas.