Amber cannot be created artificially and has unique properties. Ukrainian Polissya is one of the largest amber-bearing regions in the world. Professor Viktor Melnychuk, Acting Head of the Department of Geology and Hydrology of NUOGP, Doctor of Geological Sciences, gave exclusive interview for the site Amber Galbin Group of Companies.
In the west of Rivne region, there is a 900-meter deep Polissya series. There are also prospects for minerals here, including a new type of gas - hydrogen, the scientist added.
In total, there are 16 types of minerals.
Amber is a stone with unique properties
Amber comes from the German word Bernsteinwhich means "combustible stone". It is the resin of ancient trees, so it belongs to organic substances and is conditionally a mineral raw material. It has physical and chemical properties that are unique to it," the scientist said.According to Ukrainian law, amber is classified as a gemstone of organic origin. It is placed alongside pearls, eiders and corals.
The near-surface occurrence of Polissya amber is one of its peculiarities. In Polish and Russian deposits, the stone is located much deeper.
In addition, the Polissia amber province is larger than the Baltic provinces. According to geologists, the reserves of amber in Rivne region amount to 1.5 thousand tons. "The Klesiv deposit alone contains 108 tons, which means that the region's reserves correspond to ten Klesiv deposits," concludes Viktor Melnychuk.
Similar deposits are found in Indonesia and the Dominican Republic. They are currently being explored.
Tree resin turned into amber over 20 million years
In the Oligocene era (33-20 million years ago), the waters of the Tethys Ocean converged on the site of the Prypiat Basin, as it is also called, in the amber-bearing basin. Amber did not sink in salt water, explains Viktor Melnychuk, explaining the formation of the stone.
And from the east, many rivers with fresh water flowed into the ocean, where amber, on the contrary, sank. That is, amber could not be formed there either. Therefore, according to the scientist's hypothesis, it was on the border where the water in which amber floated and was dissolved by fresh water at the same time that the substance was formed, which went to the bottom. This place is called the Ukrainian Polissia, the Prypiat Amber Basin.
It accumulated on the seabed and was buried by sands, clay, and granites for 20 million years. Thus, under the pressure of rocks, under the influence of various hydrochemical solutions that emigrated among these sands, tree resin turned into amber. This is possible only in the geological dimension for a long time. It is problematic to create amber artificially, it will crumble. " - said the professor.
Amber is not subject to devaluation
As a precious stone, amber can be viewed in several dimensions, says Viktor Melnychuk. First, it is the equivalent of money, which is not subject to devaluation.
Secondly, the gem is a personal decoration. Thirdly, amber is a talisman that gives health. Fourthly, it has healing properties, in particular, it can prevent the development of a thyroid disease called goiter.
Amber Galbin knows how to mine amber
Uncontrolled amber mining has harmed nature. The miners disturbed the fertile soil layer and the deposit underground.
Viktor Melnychuk emphasized that amber mining without specialists is not allowed, as it will harm nature.
The task of geologists is to minimize the impact on the environment, to carry out reclamation, that is, to restore the natural environment, to return it at least to its original state," said the professor.
It is also necessary to implement the amendments to the amber laws adopted in December 2019. Among the enterprises engaged in stone mining, the scientist identified a group of companies "Amber Galbin.
They really have modern approaches to subsoil use. They employ geologists and are interested in setting up their own geological service. Some company directors are studying for a master's degree. They are interested in conducting research and development not only in terms of geological servicing of fields, but also in environmental impact assessment," concluded Viktor Melnychuk.