gemstone

Amber

Fossilized Tree Resin

Hardness: 2-2.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, orange, brown, occasionally red, green, or blue; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous (non-crystalline); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 1.05-1.10 (often floats in saltwater).

Hardness: 2-2
Color: Yellow, orange, brown, occasionally red, green, or blue
Luster: Resinous

Identified August 7, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the fossilization of plant resin, primarily from conifers, over millions of years (typically ranging from Cretaceous to Paleogene periods, 30 to 90+ million years ago).

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry, decorative ornaments, and occasionally in scientific research due to trapped inclusions like insects and plant matter.

Geological facts

Amber is not a true mineral as it is organic in origin. Famous amber deposits are found in the Baltic region and the Dominican Republic.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its warm touch, low specific gravity, resinous smell when rubbed or warmed, and electrostatic properties when rubbed with cloth. Found globally in coastal marine sediments, coal seams, and alluvial deposits.