Where Burmese Amber is found, including the specific location and geology of the mines.
Burmese Amber is found in the Hukawng Valley of Kachin State, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). The Hukawng Valley is located in the northernmost part of Myanmar, near the border with China and India. The valley is known for its rugged terrain, with steep mountains and dense forests.
The mines where Burmese Amber is found are located in the eastern part of the Hukawng Valley, in an area known as the Noije Bum mines. These mines are located in a narrow strip of land that runs parallel to the border with China. The mines are situated on a rocky outcropping that is believed to be the remains of an ancient riverbed.
Visual image of local houses in Kachin State, Myanmar
Visual image of local houses in Kachin State, Myanmar
locals working in Burmese Amber mine
Visual image of local houses in Kachin State, Myanmar
The geology of the mines is complex, with layers of sandstone, clay, and limestone that have been exposed by erosion. The amber is found in a layer of clay that is sandwiched between layers of sandstone. The amber is believed to have formed in an ancient river delta, where resin from trees was washed into the river and eventually buried in the sediment. Over millions of years, the resin hardened into amber as it was buried deeper and deeper in the sediment.
It is believed that the mines in the Hukawng Valley are the only known deposits of Burmese Amber in the world. The mines were closed by the Burmese government in the 1960s and are no longer in operation. As a result, Burmese Amber is considered a highly valuable and rare mineral.