Skip to main content
Log in

The Composition of Succinite (Baltic Amber)

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

THE chemical composition of succinite (Baltic amber), its botanical origin, and methods of distinguishing it from other fossil resins, are long standing questions1, the third of which has been largely solved in recent years by infrared spectrometry2–4. In his survey, Langenheim5 emphasizes the botanical origin and the strong hold which Conwentz's postulated amber source Pinus succinifera has had over subsequent workers. This concept has also dominated ideas of the resin's composition; recent suggestions that this largely derives from dimerized abietic acid6,7 are not persuasive.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Beck, C. W., Gerving, M., and Wilbur, E., Art Arch. Tech. Abst., 6 (2), 215 (1966); 6 (3), 203 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beck, C. W., Wilbur, E., and Meret, S., Nature, 201, 256 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Langenheim, J. H., and Beck, C. W., Science, 149, 52 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Beck, C. W., Wilbur, E., Meret, S., Kossove, D., and Kermani, K., Archaeometry, 8, 96 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Langenheim, J. H., Science, 163, 1157 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rottländer, R. C. A., Tetrahedron Lett., 4129 (1969).

  7. Rottländer, R. C. A., Archaeometry, 12, 35 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Edwards, O. E., and Howe, R., Canad. J. Chem., 37, 760 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Joye, N. M., Lawrence, R. V., and Bough, L. J., J. Org. Chem., 31, 320 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zinkel, D. F., Zank, L. C., and Wesolowski, M. F., Diterpene Resin Acids (US Dept. of Agriculture, Madison, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schmid, L., and Erdös, A., Liebigs Ann., 503, 269 (1933).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Alekseeva, I. A., and Samarina, L. A., Khim. Prirod. Soedinenii, 2, 429 (1966).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Thomas, B. R., in Organic Geochemistry (edit. by Eglinton, G., and Murphy, M. T. J.), 599 (Longmans, London, 1969).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  14. Thomas, B. R., in Phytochemical Phytogeny (edit. by Harborne, J. B.), 59 (Academic Press, London and New York, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gough, L. J., Chem. Ind., 2059 (1964).

  16. Thomas, B. R., Acta Chem. Scand., 20, 1074 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Schmid, L., and Korperth, H., Mh. Chem., 65, 348 (1935).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Joye, N. M., and Lawrence, R. V., J. Chem. Eng. Data, 12, 279 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Skrigan, A. I., Chem. Abstr., 62, 10664 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bruun, T., K. Norske Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., 4 (1950).

  21. Dauben, W. G., and German, V. F., Tetrahedron, 22, 679 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zinkel, D. F., Toda, J. K., and Rowe, J. K., Phytochem., 8, 869 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Carman, R. M., and Marty, R. A., Aust. J. Chem., 23, 1457 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bruns, K., Tetrahedron, 24, 3417 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Caputo, R., and Mangoni, L., Chimica Ind., Milano, 51, 1382 (1969).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Caputo, R., Dovinola, V., and Mangoni, L., Chimica Ind., Milano, 51, 1384 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Caputo, R., Mangoni, L., and Monaco, P., Phytochem., 11, 839 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GOUGH, L., MILLS, J. The Composition of Succinite (Baltic Amber). Nature 239, 527–528 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/239527a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/239527a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Navigation