gemstone

Amber (or polished Chalcedony bead)

Fossilized Tree Resin / SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide if Chalcedony)

Hardness: 2-2.5 (Amber) or 6.5-7 (Chalcedony/Agate). Color: Honey-yellow to amber-orange. Luster: Resinously waxy to vitreous. Crystal Structure: Amorphous (Amber) or Microcrystalline (Chalcedony). Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 2-2
Color: Honey-yellow to amber-orange
Luster: Resinously waxy to vitreous

Identified July 27, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed over millions of years through the fossilization of plant resin from ancient coniferous trees, or deposited hydrothermally as microcrystalline quartz in sedimentary/volcanic cavity environments.

Uses & applications

Used in jewelry, beads, ornamental carvings, and decorative gemstone collections. Ancient amber was also valued in folk medicine and historically traded across ancient trade routes.

Geological facts

Amber can preserve ancient organic matter, including insects, feathers, and plant tissues from millions of years ago. It feels warm to the touch and floats in saturated salt water, unlike glass or quartz lookalikes.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its warm golden-yellow color, small disk/bead shape, and light transmittance. Commonly found in Baltic region beaches, Dominican Republic, or widespread agate/quartz gravel deposits worldwide.

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