mineraloid

Amber

Succinates

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 (Mohs), Color: brownish-orange to honey yellow, Luster: resinous, Structure: amorphous (non-crystalline), Cleavage: none, Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10

Hardness: 2

Identified June 5, 2026More mineraloid →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 (Mohs), Color: brownish-orange to honey yellow, Luster: resinous, Structure: amorphous (non-crystalline), Cleavage: none, Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10

Formation & geological history

Fossilized tree resin from ancient coniferous or deciduous forests, typically dating from the Cretaceous to the Eocene periods (approx. 30-100 million years ago)

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry (beads, pendants), decorative arts, and as a source of information for paleontologists when it contains inclusions

Geological facts

Amber is not a mineral but a mineraloid. It is most famous for often containing perfectly preserved prehistoric insects, plants, and even feathers trapped within the sticky resin before it lithified

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its lightness (it floats in saltwater), warmth to the touch compared to stone, and its ability to produce a pine-like smell when touched with a hot needle