What is amber and what is beeswax?

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About amber and beeswax, many people think they are the same, but their names are different. In fact, the two are very different. As for what it is, we can learn about it together.

Before talking about the difference between amber and beeswax, we need to know what is the connection between them.

Some people describe amber and beeswax as brothers, but there is no difference in physical and chemical composition between them. They are all fossil resins. Amber beeswax is the fat juice of conifers such as pine trees and maple trees buried deep underground in Eocene geological era, which is blended with various minerals in air, water and soil. A natural resin fossil, which was buried deep underground through changes in the earth's crust, gradually evolved. As an organic fossil, amber beeswax has extremely high ornamental and medicinal value. Naturally, it is also loved and supported by everyone.

The following is a summary of their commonness.

I. Physical and chemical composition

As mentioned above, there is no difference in physical and chemical composition between them. They are all natural resin fossils secreted by conifers 40-60 million years ago, which were buried deep underground after crustal changes and gradually evolved. It can be understood from two aspects: transparent, called "amber", opaque, color like honey, luster like wax, called "beeswax"; On the other hand, beeswax is a kind of amber in terms of inclusions and inclusions, which conforms to all definitions of amber.

amber

beeswax

Second, the formation time

"Millennium amber, Millennium beeswax", I believe everyone has heard of this sentence. From this perspective, many people will form some misunderstandings, and even simply think that beeswax takes longer to form than amber. So what is the real situation? This statement is basically made up by merchants. A term for buying and selling is actually not scientific. Some experts tested it with special scientific instruments. In fact, beeswax is not necessarily longer than transparent amber.

amber

beeswax

Since the relationship between the two is so deep, what is the difference between them?

First of all, it must be clear that amber is actually amber and beeswax is just beeswax. The two cannot be equated. I believe everyone has heard of the phrase "Millennium amber, Millennium beeswax", which is correct from the side: beeswax is a kind of amber, but not all amber can be called beeswax. Beeswax is called beeswax only because its color is like honey and light is like wax.

In fact, the biggest difference between amber and beeswax is the difference in succinic acid content between them. When the content of internal succinic acid is less than 4%, the fossil resin is transparent, and the amber beeswax at this time is generally called "doing things is doing things". The content of succinic acid is between 4% and 8%, and the fossil resin is cloudy and translucent, which is generally called gold powder beeswax, gold wire beeswax or crystal beeswax. When succinic acid exceeds 8%, the fossil resin presents opaque foam, called beeswax. This is a summary and division of amber beeswax by people in the industry. As it turns out, amber and beeswax are different.

amber

Many experts will also point out that the content of succinic acid changes with the change of geographical environment around the deposit, and completely transparent amber can gradually become beeswax through certain environmental changes. So many times, after years of playing with beeswax, with the passage of time, the succinic acid inside will decompose and may become transparent amber.

beeswax

In addition, there are differences in price. The price of beeswax jewelry is generally several times that of amber jewelry, especially in recent years. It may be the hype of merchants, the choice of the whole market, or it may be because the output of beeswax itself is less than that of amber. This is very possible.

amber

There are also different artistic values. Beeswax has been supported by Tibetan Buddhism since ancient times and has been listed as one of the seven treasures of Buddhism. The cultural background behind nature will be deeper, so the historical and cultural value will be higher. Although amber is a work of art, there are still some contrasts and gaps.

beeswax

This paper analyzes the relationship and difference between amber and beeswax, which helps you to clarify the relationship between amber and beeswax. I'm sure they won't be considered the same again, will they?

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