Organic Mineraloid

Amber

Succinite (fossilized resin)

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: honey-yellow to orange-brown; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in saltwater).

Hardness: 2
Color: honey-yellow to orange-brown
Luster: Resinous

Identified March 22, 2026More organic mineraloid →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the fossilization of tree resin from extinct coniferous trees. The specimen undergoes polymerization over millions of years (typically 30-90 million years old) under specific sedimentary pressure and temperature conditions.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry (beads, pendants), as a gemstone, in decorative arts (The Amber Room), and for scientific research due to biological inclusions (insects, plant matter).

Geological facts

Amber is one of the few organic gemstones. It is famous for preserving delicate life forms from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. It can generate static electricity when rubbed with a cloth, a property known to the ancient Greeks.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its lightweight feel and warm touch. It can be distinguished from plastic by the 'saltwater test' (it floats in saturated saltwater) or the 'hot needle test' (it smells like pine resin when touched by a hot point). Commonly found along the Baltic Sea coastline.