A man comes across a huge piece of amber on the Danish island of Fanø. His find arouses the enthusiasm of beachcombers worldwide.
Fanø - Amber, a material that has captivated people for centuries, can come in different colors and shapes - from light yellow and transparent to reddish brown and dull. You don't necessarily have to buy it because you can often find it on the beach. A man recently discovered a particularly large specimen on the Danish North Sea island of Fanø that would be too big for a jewelry pendant.
“What a find”: man delights with amber online
The amber, which the man presented in a Facebook group for beach finds (sea glass, fossils, stones), weighs 62.5 grams. His photos of the evidence, which he captioned "I'm very happy," are really impressive. Other members of the group were happy with him and congratulated him on his find. One woman wrote: “Congratulations on such a gem,” and another added: “Congratulations on the hunk. Wow, what a find.”
Tips for a successful amber search
But how can you come across such a pleasant beach find yourself? A little luck is certainly required, but there are also favorable conditions that can increase the chances. Many holiday home rental companies attract tourists with the prospect of finding a piece of “North Sea gold”. According to her, it's best to look for stormy weather in the fall and winter months, as the waves wash up the amber from the sand. The best time of day to search is particularly early in the morning or late in the evening.
How to find amber:
“Amber lamps” are a helpful tool for searching for this sought-after flotsam and jetsam at night.
Amber glows very brightly under UV light and in recent years UV flashlights have been available to help collectors at dusk or even at night.
Another tip is to pay attention to the flush seam. These are deposits made of plant and animal components - such as wood or seaweed - that are created by the changing tides. They are usually found not far from the water's edge on the beach and can also contain amber.
Danger of confusion: Amber looks similar to phosphorus
However, there is an important warning for amber hunting. The stone can easily be confused with phosphorus. White phosphorus, used in incendiary bombs during World War II, still occasionally washes up on beaches today as ammunition residue. Phosphorus ignites even at temperatures above 20 degrees and the fire cannot be extinguished by laypeople.
Therefore, collectors should never put found stones in their clothing pockets. In an interview with
geo.de
, a biologist recommended
collecting the stones in a small metal bucket that can be dropped in an emergency. The portal
bernsteindirekt.de
also warns of caution, even if the stones are dry and have not caught fire. If in doubt, you should ask an expert, such as an amber dealer, for advice.
(frs/yh)