Burmite

Garry Platt writes:

Burma up until recent years had been China’s major source of amber. The Burmese had mined and dug for the amber which was then sold to Chinese traders who would sell on to crafts people who prized the gem for its qualities and mythical properties.

The amber was extracted from the Northern parts of the country. The mining shafts were lined with bamboo canes sunk down 10 -15 meters through clay deposits. ‘The Mineral Resources of Burma’ published in 1934 noted 200 pits aimed at extracting amber near the village of Shingban. Photographs from this period show these mines as potential death traps. The author is uninformed about the situation regarding amber mining within this region at the current time. Most records refer to activity up until the 1930’s, but none later. The age of Burmite has been established as Eocene through indicator fossils present in the amber deposits. The tree origin has been determined as Nummulites Biaritzensis.

More info @ http://www.gplatt.demon.co.uk/typesof.htm