The Origin of Baltic Amber

Baltic amber is a mineral resin which is estimated to be from 40 to 50 million years old. Originally, it was thought that the Pinus succinifera was the only resin-forming tree and the only source of amber. At present, however, it is believed that the resin was formed by several types of conifers in forests which covered the area of today's Scandinavia and Baltic Sea. From these forests the resin was transported, and gradually changed into amber, by a river, the mouth of which was situated opposite today's Baltic Coast. Today, the greatest ledges of amber are situated along the Baltic coast from Chłapów to the Sambian Peninsula. However, this is not the only place where amber was formed. In the period of glaciation, secondary deposits of amber were dispersed all over Poland

Illustration represents:

• Sea borders – blue colour
• Land – dotted line
• Hypothetical route of the Eridan River (upper Eocene) – red colour