A for Amber- An Impregnable Fossil!!

This post is a part of A-Z April Challenge 2013.

Amber, this term is often directed instantly to the color it holds. But archaeologists and historians may disregard this conclusion of referring amber only as a color. I was particularly fascinated about amber when I read about it in an Encyclopedia Book, way back during my school days.I saw a picture of an ant caught in an amber resin and over the years the resin has hardened to become a stone.The ant however has not decayed, still retaining it's physical properties.The content under the picture went this way, "This stone holds the fossil of an ant which is around 40 million years old".I didn't understand what a fossil was that day but instantly fell in love with the color of amber, which made me read that page about amber when I a child.But how can an ant stay without getting decayed for 40 million years?
This question kept lingering in my mind.

As I grew up, I started learning more about the properties of amber and it's significance.Amber's history dates back to centuries and there are many versions about it's etymology.Chemically, amber is a combination of more than 40 natural compounds and is a resin largely obtained from the Pine Tress near Baltic Countries.A resin is a tree's protective substance which drips down to heal it's wounded areas.During this process, some insects, plants, leaves get themselves engulfed inside the amber and as this amber hardens the remains of these insects are concealed safely inside amber stone.Almost all the properties of the engulfed object can be studied later when the amber stone is discovered.The amber stone acts like a protective shield against all natural forces and ensures that the perishable body of the object remains unaffected.

What fascinates me the most apart from the color, texture and feel of amber is it's incomparable ability to combat against all natural forces.Historians get amber stones as remains from the soil after the trees are died which illustrates amber's persistence.Amber today is used extensively in jewelry,in perfume industry for it's impeccable aroma, as an alternative medicine and as a decorative item.

Philosophically speaking, when talking about amber I remember another stone which catches the eyes of people; diamond.Chemically, amber also contains nearly 70% of carbon and even diamond's major composition is carbon.But, though carbon is black, both these stones stand the test of time and never "give up" their resistance which ultimately makes them so valuable. Both of them, go through erratic temperatures and climatic conditions to finally become an eye-catching jewelry component.If we are also able to persist through the tough times, we can discover the diamond inside us and our history will always be alive like the one stored inside amber.

Love,
Ram Thilak