Amber is the fossilized resin of coniferous trees, mainly from the pine family, which was formed millions of years ago. During the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, these trees lived in vast areas, and their resin floated to the surface, where it hardened and underwent chemical, physical and biological processes. Over time, this resin could be submerged in sediments or in sea water, where under the influence of pressure and temperature it turned into amber. Today, the largest deposits of amber are located in the Baltic Sea region, where for thousands of years the resin was transported by rivers and waves, settling in the sand and gravel at the bottom of the sea. Amber occurs in various colors, from yellow through orange to dark brown, and also in a transparent or cloudy form. It often contains inclusions, i.e. small organisms, such as insects, embedded in it, which makes it valuable to scientists studying prehistory.
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