MEXICAN MAYAN AMBER - SAMPLES    

MEXICAN AMBER : The total production of this amber is probably only a few hundred kilos a month. So there is only a limited amount on the market. From the latest research it appears that is from the late Oligocene some 24-30 Million years ago. This amber is natural (not treated like baltic amber). The colour is totally natural and impressive. It is known for its inclusions. It is from a tropical forest and as with Dominican amber it is from an extinct tree species in the genus Hymenaec. This genus still exists in the south and central America. Though the closest relative appears to be one species currently found in Africa and it exudes large amounts of resin (as the extinct one did). The amber is from the Simojovel area of Chiapas and is hand polished by Mayan Indigenous (Tzotzil) or myself. Look at the example in the photo below. It contains many insects.

Often called Chiapas amber (from the southern state of chiapas, Mexico. Though known to the ancient Maya and Aztecs, it first became known to the world through Frans Blom, an archaeologist and authority on Mayan culture. This meant he spent much time in the Jungle and isolated areas of Chiapas. Blom, an ex oil surveyor became aware of amber deposits in the Simojovel area of Chiapas. Blom sent samples with insect inclusions to the University of California. This sparked off such interest that soon after in 1953 a group of scientists from California's Museum of Paleontology Berkeley arranged with Blom to visit the amber deposits in Simojovel. Blom owned a large house in San Christobal de las Cassess(Chiapas). This was a cultural and artistic center with rooms for visitors. They set off for Simojovel in a jeep with Blom the leader of the expedition. They experienced much difficulty because of landslides,rockfalls and the jeep getting stuck in the mud. Added to that the local indigenous people were hostile. Despite the problems the expedition was successful. Stratigraphic mapping was undertaken. Amber with inclusions was obtained and a new species of stingless bee was discovered.

The most significant collection of Mexican amber is at the University of California Museum of Berkeley. It was assembled by PD Hurd Jnr and other scientists in the 1950's.

My first visit to Simojovel was in 1974 -1975. It was still an isolated area and hard to get to. Below are pictures of the Simojovel area.

The main amber deposit from the Huitipan river.

CONTACT : Dave Gibson. A collector in the UK. My email is davegibson46@yahoo.co.uk