mineraloid

Amber (Copal)

Succinate (Fossilized Resin)

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Brownish-orange to deep dark brown; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)

Hardness: 2
Color: Brownish-orange to deep dark brown
Luster: Resinous

Identified June 28, 2026More mineraloid →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Brownish-orange to deep dark brown; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)

Formation & geological history

Formed from the fossilization of tree resin over millions of years (Cenozoic era). It undergoes polymerization through high pressure and temperature after being buried in sediment.

Uses & applications

Used in jewelry, decorative arts, perfume manufacturing, and as important specimens for paleontology when containing inclusions.

Geological facts

Unlike true minerals, amber is organic. It can contain perfectly preserved prehistoric insects, plants, and even small vertebrates trapped in the sticky resin before it hardened.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its light weight, warm feel to the touch (unlike cold stone), and its ability to produce a static charge when rubbed. It may also give off a pine odor when touched with a hot needle.