Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It dates from 44 million years ago (during the Eocene epoch). It has been estimated that these forests created more than 100,000 tons of amber.
The term "Baltic amber" is generic, so amber from the Bitterfeld brown coal mines in Saxony (Eastern Germany) goes under the same name. Bitterfeld amber was previously believed to be only 20–22 million years old (Miocene), but a comparison of the animal inclusions revealed that it is most probably genuine Baltic amber that has only been redeposited in a Miocene deposit. Other sources of Baltic amber have been listed as coming from Poland and Russia.
Because Baltic amber contains about 8% succinic acid, it is also termed succinite.
It was thought since the 1850s that the resin that became amber was produced by the tree Pinites succinifer, but research in the 1980s came to the conclusion that the resin originates from several species. More recently, it has been proposed, on the evidence of Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of amber and resin from living trees, that conifers of the family Sciadopityaceae were responsible. The only extant representative of this family is the Japanese umbrella pine, Sciadopitys verticillata.
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Sea Shanty
by: DublinersOh See the host of fleet foot men who sped with faces
wan.
From farmstedt and from fishers cot along the banks of
Bann.
They come with vengence in their eyes, too late, too late
are they,
For young Roddy McCorly goes to die on the bridge of T
oome today.
Verse 2:
When the last stepped up the stret, his shining pike in
hand.
Behind him marched in grim array a stalwart earnest band.
For Antrim town, for Antrim town, he led them to the
fray,
And young Roddy McCorly goes to die on the bridge of
Toome today.
Verse 3:
Up the narrows streets he steps, smiling proud and young.
About the hemp rope on his neck, the golden ringlets
clung.
There was never a tear in his blue eyes, both sad and
bright are they,
For young Roddy McCorly goes to die on the bridge of