mineraloid
Amber with Organic Inclusions
Succinite (fossilized resin)
Hardness: 2.0–2.5 Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-brown to honey-orange; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 1.05–1.10 (very light, can float in salt water).
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Yellowish-brown to honey-orange
- Luster
- Resinous
Identified More mineraloid →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 2.0–2.5 Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-brown to honey-orange; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 1.05–1.10 (very light, can float in salt water).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the polymerization and fossilization of tree resin over millions of years (usually Eocene to Cretaceous). Often found in marine deposits where resin was fossilized in low-oxygen environments.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative arts, and scientific study (paleontology) if it contains preserved insects or plant matter.
Geological facts
Amber is technically a mineraloid rather than a mineral because it is organic and lacks a crystalline structure. It is famous for preserving delicate cellular structures of prehistoric life for tens of millions of years.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its light weight and warmth to the touch compared to stone. It will develop a static charge when rubbed with wool and may glow under UV light. Common in the Baltic region, Dominican Republic, and Myanmar.
More like this
Other mineraloid specimens
Amber
Succinite (Organic Mineraloid)
mineral
Mahogany Obsidian
Volcanic glass (high silica) with inclusions of Magnetite or Hematite
igneous
Obsidian
Volcanic glass (SiO2 + impurities)
igneous
Black Obsidian
Volcanic Glass (predominantly SiO2)
igneous
Fulgurite
Fulgurite (Lechatelierite)
metamorphic
Black Obsidian
Volcanic Glass (SiO2 + impurities)
Igneous