gemstone

Amber

Fossilized tree resin; primarily polymerized terpenoid resin (succinite)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 2–2.5; translucent honey-yellow to orange-brown with resinous/waxy luster and conchoidal-to-irregular fracture. Very low density (~1.05–1.10), amorphous rather than crystalline, and commonly electrostatically charged when rubbed.

Identified August 14, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Amber formed when ancient conifer or flowering-plant resin was buried, chemically altered, and polymerized over millions of years, commonly during the Cretaceous–Cenozoic. The specimen’s irregular fractured appearance is consistent with a raw amber fragment, though exact origin and age require testing.

Uses & applications

Used for beads, carvings, ornaments, and occasionally perfume or scientific inclusions; clear, inclusion-rich pieces are most valuable. It is also collected as a fossil organic gemstone rather than used structurally.

Geological facts

Amber may contain insects, plant fragments, or gas bubbles and can fluoresce blue, green, or yellow under ultraviolet light. Heating often produces a pine-like odor, while copal is a younger, softer resin sometimes misidentified as amber.

Field identification & locations

Common deposits include the Baltic region, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Myanmar, and Alaska. It floats in concentrated salt water, scratches easily with a steel point, and burns or softens with heat; these tests can damage it.