Since the time the above dialogue was presented, I have come to understand that "Chinese root amber" is actually from the island of Borneo. I've been to Borneo twice, but I have not found a geologist to consult with about this material. And, in more recent years, very similar ambers have been discovered and exploited in Sumatra (less than ten years ago). One can suppose they are probably geologically similar, since Borneo and Sumatra are reasonably close, in terms of a global perspective.