mineral
Amber (in Matrix/Shale)
Amber (Fossilized Tree Resin)
Hardness: 2.0-2.5; Color: Honey-brown, yellow, orange-red; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 1.05-1.10
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Honey-brown, yellow, orange-red
- Luster
- Resinous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.0-2.5; Color: Honey-brown, yellow, orange-red; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 1.05-1.10
Formation & geological history
Formed through the polymerization of fossilized ancient tree resin from coniferous or angiosperm trees, often found in sedimentary deposits like shale or sandstone ranging from the Carboniferous to the Pleistocene periods.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in jewelry, decorative arts, and perfumery; highly valued by paleontologists for preserving prehistoric biological inclusions (insects, feathers, DNA traces).
Geological facts
Amber is one of the few organic substances classified as a gemstone; it floats in saltwater and can generate static electricity if rubbed with a cloth.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its waxy feel, light weight (it feels much lighter than a stone of similar size), and the Saltwater Test (it floats). Commonly found in the Baltic region, Dominican Republic, and Myanmar.
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