North Carolina Find

North Carolina Storms and Amber

Hurricane Hugo hit North Carolina and surroundings in 1989. Intense weathering from this severe storm uncovered a large specimen of what appeared to be the amber from the Bogue Sound region of North Carolina. 1999 was another year of severe weather for North Carolina and more specimens have been found. This image (below) was sent to me.

This 12 pound (5.4 kg) "biscuit" was found at Holden Beach, North Carolina ( approximately 35 miles from Wilmington, NC) in August 1999. This area is on the Atlantic Ocean and some 50-100 miles from the Neuse River (amber has been reported along this river for many years). Although a gemologist in Fayetteville, NC identified the piece as amber, the owner of the specimen said the Kentucky Geologic Survey identified it as copal or an immature resin, not amber.

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