COMBUSTIBLE MINERALS, NOT GASEOUS. 
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AMBER. 
Amber. Cleaveland, Phillips, and Thomson. — Succin. Hauy and Beudant. — Yellow Mineral Resin, or 
Amber. Jameson. — Gelbes Erd-Harz. Mohs. 
Description. Colour yellow or yellowish-white, sometimes passing into red brown. Streak 
white or grey. It occurs in irregular grains, nodules, and sometimes in stalactites ; often in¬ 
closes insects, leaves and other parts of vegetables. Fracture conchoidal. Lustre resinous 
or vitreous. Transparent and translucent. Brittle, and easily frangible. Hardness from 2.0 
to 2.5. Specific gravity from 1.080 to 1.085. When rubbed, it becomes negatively elec¬ 
tric. A notice of this fact formed the basis of the science of electricity, the Greek name for 
amber being '/jXsxrpov. It burns with a yellow flame, emits an agreeable odour, and leaves a 
light shining black coal. It is soluble in alcohol. When distilled, it yields succinic acid. 
Amber may be distinguished from gum copal, which it often resembles, by its being harder, 
and not melting into drops when burning. Mellite or honey-stone becomes white when laid 
on a red hot coal. 
Composition. Carbon 70.68, hydrogen 11.62, oxygen 7.77 (C/re). According to Kane, 
it is a mixture of two resins which are soluble in alcohol and ether, a bitumen insoluble in 
those liquids, a volatile oil, and the succinic acid. 
Geological Situation. Amber usually occurs in alluvial and tertiary formations. It has 
been found associated with lignite and iron pyrites, at South-Amboy in New-Jersey. The 
same stratum is continued at Rossville in Richmond county, N. Y., and there is little doubt 
that amber will be found associated with it. The amber from Amboy occurs in small pale- 
yellow or reddish-yellow translucent masses. The stratum in which it is found is covered by 
an astringent clay. 
Uses. Amber is very extensively used in the arts as a material for varnishes. It is also 
employed as a perfume, and the finer kinds are wrought into ornaments which in some coun¬ 
tries are highly prized. Its scientific interest depends upon its electrical properties and the 
results of its distillation. 
Min. — Part II. 
24 
