gemstone

Amber

Succinite (Fossilized Tree Resin)

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 (Mohs scale); Color: honey yellow to deep orange/brown; Luster: resinous; Structure: amorphous; Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)

Hardness: 2
Color: honey yellow to deep orange/brown
Luster: resinous

Identified July 11, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 (Mohs scale); Color: honey yellow to deep orange/brown; Luster: resinous; Structure: amorphous; Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)

Formation & geological history

Fossilized resin from Eocene-aged (35-50 million years ago) coniferous forests. The specific coordinates provided (Kaliningrad region) are the world's most productive source of 'Baltic Amber'.

Uses & applications

Highly prized for jewelry, decorative carvings, and scientific study (paleontology) when it contains inclusions like insects or plant matter.

Geological facts

Baltic amber contains 3-8% succinic acid, which historically was used in folk medicine. It is a polymer rather than a mineral in the strict sense, as it is organic in origin.

Field identification & locations

The location provided is 54.9N, 20.2E, which is the Sambia Peninsula. This is the 'Amber Coast', famous for the largest amber deposits in the world. Identify it by its light weight and its ability to float in saturated salt water.