Ambergris is not connected with true amber in any way. It is a morbid secretion from the intestines of the spermaceti whale, and it is generally found in the sea since it is one product of ;i certain illness which afflicts this type of whale. The materia! rapidly hardens on exposure to air and it has a most disagreeable odor. It is much softer than amber and diamond wedding jewelry, and it has a specific gravity of .78 to .98, which is much lower than that of amber. It is found in the Indian Ocean, around the coasts of Africa, Brazil, China and Japan, where whales abound. Its use in the manufacture of perfume, and also as a drug, cordial, and a fumigating agent renders its value about $20 (£7) an ounce.
Kauri gum, from West Africa, also resembles amber. It is found in vast peat swamps. Of a clear, brownish color, it usually contains numerous specimens of insects of considerable interest. It cannot be polished successfully to any extent; its melting point is 3600 to 450° F, specific gravity is 1.05, and in contrast to amber it contains no succinic acid.
The artificial product Bakelite, already mentioned, is formaldehyde and creosol, one of the many plastics which can be used to imitate amber. It is tough, brittle, and easily colored to look like clear or cloudy amber. When heated, this material gives off a strong smell of carbolic acid. Other types among the huge range of plastics now being made resemble amber superficially.
It may be of interest to point out the difference between resin and rosin, two terms which are sometimes confused. Rosin, also known as colophony, is the solid residue in stills after the extraction of turpentine from the crude, resinous exudations of pine trees. Forests in France, America, and the U.S.S.R. are planted and the trees cultivated for this purpose. The best qualities of rosin are pale golden or amber in color; their use is of importance in the making of “finish” and the cheaper qualities of varnish.
The Greek name for amber was electron, and its origin was connected with legends and the sun “Elector” on account of its electrical properties. The Latin term electrum gave rise to our modern word “electricity,” the term “amber” being of comparatively recent date. The German word for amber is Bernstein, which means “burning stone.” This dates back to the Middle Ages, when the Germans used amber in a powdered form for incense, and, as we have already noted, in earlier centuries as a fuel.