What is a fossil in amber called?

Answer 1

Amber is itself a fossil: it is tree resin, from various types of tree, and originally soft, which has become fossilized over millions of years.

Amber occasionally contains marine microfossils, and is probably best-known for sometimes containing animals and plants which were trapped in the resin, which preserved them as it hardened around them. These creatures and plant material aren't true fossils, but certainly add to the mystique and attractiveness of Amber.

Below are links to the Dead Bug in Amber Club and to the American Museum of Natural History, both of which address your subject of interest admirably.

Amber is most commonly found in the well-known golden-brown transparent form, but also occurs in other colours such as red, blue and green.

There are many examples of the use of amber; the third link below contains photographs of the nearly indescribable Amber Room in the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo, near St Petersburg, a town which celebrates its tercentenary - three hundredth year - this year. Wikipedia has more photos (under Amber Room) which are perhaps more spectacular than those at the Tsarskoe Selo website.