Discovering Amber in the California Sierra: A Family's Journey
Question
Amber 1
Dear Peter Lumetta some years back my family and I where in the California sierra mountains when we discovered what looked like amber but not sure %100 we looked on the Internet and found 10 slandered tests as I'm sure your aware of. And after performing each test the end result was amber understanding all the people passing fake amber has made it almost impossible in locating willing help. Most of the replays that I do get come back as skeptical and or state that from the pictures that what I have isn't amber but in fact copal. When asked how it was found I explain that we had to dig down a few feet to get the amber. I have looked all over the net and have made lots of calls asking for help in identifying that what I have is not man made but in fact amber. I am willing to send samples to be examined testing I have sent a picture but its not the same. Thank You
AnswerHI DONOVAN,
THE BEST TEST IS TO SEND IT TO THE GEM TRADE LABS IN N.Y. OR CARLSBAD CA. THESE ARE THE LABS FOR THE GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA. THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN THE U.S.A. FOR GEM IDENTIFICATION. THEY MAY NOT ACCEPT A ROUGH PIECE SO I WOULD CHECK WITH THEM IN ADVANCE. THE PHOTO IS VERY GOOD BUT YOU'RE RIGHT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT IT IS. THERE ARE OTHER LABS QUITE CAPABLE OF IDENTIFYING THE PIECE SO LOOK IN YOUR AREA FOR AN AGS LAB OR A GRADUATE GEMOLOGIST WITH LOTS OF EXPERIENCE THAT DOES GEM I.D.'S. GOOD LUCK.
PETER
