Beachcomber stumbles upon rare 200g amber treasure
Britta Krause, an enthusiast of walking along the beaches of northern Germany, made a remarkable discovery in early May. During one of her daily beach walks in Lindhöft, in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, she came across an unusual find. At first, she thought it was nothing valuable.
The woman has been collecting fossils such as sea urchins and shells for over forty years. However, that day's find was exceptional. Initially, she thought it was a piece of plastic, but it turned out to be amber weighing about 200 grams. A simple saltwater solution test at home confirmed it. It floated in the water, which is characteristic of this mineral.
The 200-gram amber will undergo thorough examination
Expert Dr. Alberti, quoted by nordkurier.de, explains that true amber can be recognized under UV light, where it glows white-blue or greenish. It also has a characteristic structure, is soft, and can be scratched with a fingernail. However, Dr. Alberti warns against white phosphorus, which may resemble amber but is dangerous.
The found amber will be subjected to thorough studies, including CT scans, to check if there are inclusions inside, such as insects or plants. Such discoveries are incredibly valuable to scientists as they provide information about life millions of years ago.
The woman will continue her search
Britta Krause does not intend to give up her passion. Her husband is preparing special display cases for future finds, and the amber from Lindhöft will receive a place of honour. Each walk is an opportunity for another discovery for her, showing that patience and passion can lead to spectacular results.
Baltic amber, dating back about 35 million years, is fossilized resin from coniferous trees. The largest deposits are found along the Baltic coast, and finds like the one from Lindhöft remind us of the prehistoric wealth hidden in the sands of the beaches.
