Organic Gemstone (Mineraloid)
Baltic Amber (Butterscotch or Egg Yolk Variety)
Succinite (C10H16O)
Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque buttery yellow to creamy white; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Fracture: Conchoidal; Specific gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Opaque buttery yellow to creamy white
- Luster
- Resinous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Opaque buttery yellow to creamy white; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Fracture: Conchoidal; Specific gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)
Formation & geological history
Fossilized tree resin from prehistoric coniferous forests, primarily dating back to the Eocene epoch (approximately 35-50 million years ago). Formed through a process of polymerization and oxidation under pressure in sedimentary layers.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in high-end jewelry, prayer beads (Tasbih/Misbaha), traditional medicine, and as high-value collectors' specimens.
Geological facts
Baltic amber contains succinic acid, which was historically believed to have analgesic properties. Butterscotch amber is opaque because it contains millions of tiny micro-bubbles that scatter light, unlike clear amber.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its light weight (it feels warmer to the touch than glass or stone) and its ability to float in a saturated salt water solution. Found largely along the shores of the Baltic Sea (Poland, Lithuania, Russia, and Kaliningrad).
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Amber
Succinite (specifically for Baltic amber); Approximate formula: C10H16O
Organic Gemstone (Mineraloid)
Baltic Amber (Butterscotch variety)
Succinite
Organic Gemstone/Mineraloid
Amber
Succinicum (Organic compound, primarily C10H16O)
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Black Pearl (Tahitian Pearl)
Aragonite / Calcite (CaCO3) with Conchiolin
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Succinicum (Organic Gemstone - Resinite)
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Calcium Carbonate (Aragonite) with Conchiolin; formula: CaCO3
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