Hi folks,
Mark's suggestion seems most likely to me. Coal rockbolts are often mounted in epoxy resin-filled boreholes (aka resin bolts) , and this resin is easily mistaken for amber. If the drillholes leak, epoxy resin can migrate along cracks, resembling veins of amber. I've had these brought in for identification in the past.
However, ambers are quite common in lignitic coals, and have even been recorded from Scottish Carboniferous coals (Smith,J. 1894. On the Discovery of Fossil Microscopic Plants in the Fossil Amber of the Ayrshire Coal-field, Trans. Glasgow Geological Society, Vol X., P318). Smith's specimens are now lost, but a tantalising indication that Carboniferous amber does exist. It would be great if more turned up.
I still think epoxy resin is more likely though.
Cheers
John
-----Original Message-----
From: The Geological Curator's Group mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Evans
Sent: 13 March 2014 12:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Amber in Coal
I've had one enquiry over the years about a piece of resin/amber in domestic coal, and I also find pieces at home. The enquiry was a reasonably large cylinder or rod of the stuff, and I thought at the time that it might be synthetic resin related to blasting, perhaps plugging holes that had been drilled for the charges.
Any further ideas?
Mark
Dr Mark Evans,
Curator of Natural Sciences
(0116) 225 4904
www.leicester.gov.uk/museums
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Geological Curator's Group mailing list [mailto:GEO-
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tony Morgan
> Sent: 13 March 2014 12:01
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Amber in Coal
>
> Timely question for the 30th anniversary of the 1984 miners strike :-)
> The UK now imports around 44 million tons of coal per year compared to
> UK production of about 17 million tons. In 1984 we produced 120 million tons.
> Most of it is imported from Russia,columbia and the USA, and is
> lignite/brown coal for the power industry. Amber (resinite) can be
> found in this type of coal, but it seems odd for it to be found in a
> domestic supply though as i didn't think lignite burnt well..
>
> Tony
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