gemstone

Amber

Fossilized Tree Resin (C10H16O)

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 Mohs scale. Color: Honey-yellow, orange, brown. Luster: Resinoid to vitreous. Structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in saturated salt water).

Hardness: 2
Color: Honey-yellow, orange, brown
Luster: Resinoid to vitreous

Identified July 27, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the fossilization of ancient tree resin exuded by prehistoric coniferous and angiosperm trees millions of years ago (typically Cretaceous to Paleogene periods, 30-90 million years old).

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry (beads, cabochons, carved pendants), decorative arts, traditional medicine, and scientific research (study of trapped inclusions such as ancient insects and flora).

Geological facts

Amber is an organic gemstone, not a mineral. It can preserve ancient plant matter, insects, and even small vertebrates in exquisite detail. When rubbed against wool or silk, it produces static electricity.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its light weight, warmth to the touch, tendency to float in saltwater, and faint pine scent when gently heated with a hot needle. Prominently found along the Baltic Sea region, Dominican Republic, Myanmar, and Mexico.