Amber

The amber ascertained in Poland occurs in Paleogene and Quaternary formations. The biggest accumulations of amber in Paleogene sediments are connected with the northern marginal zone of the Eocene Sea. In the northern zone amber has agglomerated in the sandy-silty sediments with glauconite in the Eridan river delta (the so-called chłapowsko-sambijska delta). In the southern zone of the Eocene Sea the amber-bearing sediments (silts and sands with glauconite) were also formed in the delta zone, the so-called Parczew delta. The third amber occurrence in Paleogene sediments is the Możdżanowo region near the Słupsk in northern Poland. Big amber concentrations are also encountered on the Baltic beaches from Kołobrzeg to the eastern border of Poland.

According to the law standards (in force since 1.01.2002) the maximum depth of amber deposits documentation is 30 metres and the minimum efficiency for anticipated economic resources is 80 g/m² and for anticipated subeconomic resources is 40 g/m².

Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2011 amounted to 1,118 tonnes of amber within four deposits: Górka Lubartowska, Możdżanowo, Wiślinka I and Przeróbka-SL.

Górka Lubartowska deposit (Parczew region) covers the are of 295.88 ha, resources are estimated at 1,088 tonnes with the average thickness of 12.4 metres.

Resources of Możdżanowo deposit are estimated at 10 tonnes of amber, within Wiślinka I deposit at 2.7 tonnes (deposit has not been exploited since 2000). Przeróbka-SL deposit covers the area of 12.8 ha.

The amount of amber collected on the Baltic beaches is estimated at 4-6 tonnes/year.

Table 1. List of amber deposits - tonnes

Prepared by: Elżbieta Tołkanowicz