172 A Book of Precious Stones
This
flotsam amber is often entangled in seaweed and this—called " scoop
stone "—is collected in nets. In marshy spots, mounted men, called "
amber riders," follow the ebbing tide and profitably search for the
fossil resin thus exposed. The weight of amber being about the same as
sea-water, agitation of the water containing it is sufficiently
effective for its flotation. About 1860, it being evident to
geologists that the sea-amber came from the strata underneath, it was
sought on the adjacent terra firma by modern mining methods, and the
operations have resulted in an established successful industry.
The most highly prized amber comes from Sicily. Professor Oliver Oummings Farrington, in his book Gems and Gem Minerals, states
that eight hundred dollars have been paid for pieces of Sicilian amber
no larger than walnuts. The Sicilian amber reveals a varied colour
display including blood-red and chrysolite-green, which are often
fluorescent, glowing internally with a light of different colour from
the exterior. The advantages of amber, despite its softness, include
its remarkable durability.
