Amber is fossilized tree resin. Not sap, which rises in the interior cells of the tree, but resin, a sticky secretion in the outer part of the tree. Tree resin is normally broken down by weather, bacteria and fungi, but some resin, from some trees, avoids or resists these destructive forces. Resin that is semi-fossilized over hundreds of years is called copal; copal is commercially available from South American and Madagascar. True amber ranges in age from 30 - 130 million years; recently a find in Italy purports to be 230 million years old. The most familiar source for amber is the Baltic region, but amber occurs around the world - in the Dominican Republic, Chiapas, Mexico, Lebanon, Burma, and New Jersey, for example.
Inclusions (insects, plants, bubbles...) occur in a small percentage of amber; the interesting thing about amber is that it preserved the soft tissues, while in other fossils, only the bones and teeth were mineralized and preserved. As you might imagine, the creatures and items that became 'stuck' in resin and thereby preserved were generally small - tiny insects, bits of foliage, hairs and spiderwebs. Rarely, something larger was somehow preserved - a lizard, a frog, a whole flower. But all these perfectly preserved specimens can be studied to better understand the world as it was millions of years ago.
Shipping
Unless otherwise arranged, U.S. Domestic Shipments are sent via USPS Priority Mail. UPS 3-Day Select, 2-Day Air, and Next Day Air are available for an additional charge. All packages are insured. We ship packages Monday through Saturday. Shipping and Handling fees charged by The Bone Room cover the following: packing materials, packing, actual postage, and insurance.
(shipping prices: $10 minimum; for orders of $500 or more, $20 (for excess insurance). International shipping $20/$40.)
Return Policy
We try to fully describe our merchandise to minimize the need for returns. However, if a miscommunication or other extenuating circumstance results in an item arriving not as described, we will refund the cost of the item. Shipping charges both ways are the responsibility of the customer, except in the case of damage during shipping. If the item is received damaged, please contact us immediately at evolve@boneroom.com. Keep all packaging material and we will file a claim with the shipping agent.