An amalgam assembly for a fluorescent lamp includes a glass exhaust tubulation extending toward a base portion of the lamp, the tubulation being closed at an end thereof adjacent the lamp base portion, and a retaining structure disposed in the tubulation and retained by a pinched portion of the tubulation. A mercury amalgam body is disposed in the tubulation between the retaining structure and the tubulation closed end. The amalgam body includes lithium for wetting internal surfaces of the glass tubulation to cause the amalgam to adhere to the tubulation internal surfaces when the amalgam body is liquidized, and to thereby prevent the amalgam from flowing past the retaining structure and into the lamp envelope.