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Mineral resources of Poland> Rock raw materials and others> Amber
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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). The best documented is Chłapowo region where sediments occur on the depth between 60 m and 130 m. 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. These sediments occur to the depth between 20 m and 30 m. Górka Lubartowska deposit covers the area of 295.88 ha and occurs below the layer of sands with the average thickness of 12 m. The third amber occurrence in Paleogene sediments is the Możdżanowo region near Słupsk in northern Poland. The amber-bearing sediments occur on the depth about 11 m below surface.

Quaternary amber-bearing sediments are occurring mainly in chłapowsko-sambijska delta. Big amber concentrations are also encountered on the Baltic beaches from Kołobrzeg to the eastern border of Poland.

Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2015 have changed since 2014 – increased and amounted to 1,139 tonnes of amber. That was due to taking into account four deposits documented in D category and approved by the Voivode of Pomorskie Voivodeship in 2004.

According to the information collected by PGI-NRI from marshals of four voivodeships, there were 1.5 kilograms of amber exploited during geological works in Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, 7.8 kilograms of amber in Lubelskie Voivodeship and 1,024 kilograms in Pomorskie Voivodeship. The total amount of amber exploited during exploration works in 2015 was equal 1,033.3 kilograms.

Moreover, there were 2 geological works projects approved for searching and exploring of amber deposits in Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship (Rawin area) and 6 projects accepted in Lubelskie Voivodeship (Leszkowice, Niedźwiad, Brzeźnica Leśna and Brzeźnica Książęca areas).

At the same time, according to the data gained from the Customs Control, Tax Inspection and Gambling Control Departament of the Ministry of Finance, 1,664.93 kilograms of amber were confiscate on the Polish borders by the Custome Service in 2015. The total amount of amber sold during the auctions organized by the Custome Service amounted to 373.15 kilograms in 2015.

The amount of amber collected on the Baltic beaches is estimated at 5-6 tonnes per year.

Table 1 shows the current state of identification and management of resources of amber in Poland.

Prepared by: Krzysztof Szamałek