masses of leaves, twigs and fragments of lignite and 
charred wood. Most of it was distributed irregularly in 
the matrix of relatively thick accumulations of commi- 
nuted lignite. The amber occurs commonly as small 
teardrops or in irregularly shaped fragments varying 
from the size of a pin head to a hickory nut. It is gener- 
ally transparent and yellow or reddish in color, although 
some is opaque and grayish white. 
In 1907, Gies’ chemical analysis indicated the follow- 
ing percentage elementary composition; C,78.5; H,9.5; 
S, 0.25; O, 11.75. On destructive distillation, succinic 
acid appeared to be formed and a considerable ‘‘quantity 
of volatile sulphide was evolved.’” Ash content was only 
0.1%. 
Because the amber at Kreischerville occurs in close 
association with leafy twigs of Sequoia heterophylla Vel. 
and S. Reichenbach (Gein.) Heer, Hollick thought that 
Sequoia might also be the source of this amber. He in- 
dicates, however, other coniferous remains found in the 
Kreischerville clay which might have contributed amber: 
Widdringtonites Reich (KKH.) Heer, Juniperus hynoides 
Heer, Dammara microlepsis Heer and Pinus sp. 
Jeffrey and Chrysler (1906) and Jeffrey (1907), on the 
other hand, studied the lignites from Kreischerville and 
concluded that Pityorylon (Pinaceous) was the only 
genus which contained amber. This ‘‘pitoxyloid lignite’’ 
contained masses of large pieces of amber; smaller frag- 
ments were contained in the amber-bearing strata. ‘‘The 
amber enclosed in the lignite appears both in translucent 
shining condition and in dull ochraceous modification. ”’ 
It not only occurs in ‘‘pockets or nuggets but also as fine 
yellow threads or streaks corresponding to the normal 
resin passages in the wood.”’ 
Thus, only both a possible taxodiaceous and pinaceous 
source have been suggested for the Kreischerville amber. 
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