Organic Mineraloid
Amber
Succinate (Succinite for Baltic varieties)
Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow, orange, brown; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Specific gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Honey-yellow, orange, brown
- Luster
- Resinous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow, orange, brown; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Specific gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the fossilization of tree resin from extinct coniferous trees, primarily during the Paleogene period (approx. 30-50 million years ago)
Uses & applications
Used extensively in jewelry, perfume production, folk medicine, and decorative arts; highly valued by paleontologists for preserving biological inclusions
Geological facts
Amber is not a true mineral because it is organic and lacks a crystalline structure. Some specimens contain 'inclusions' like insects or plant matter that are millions of years old
Field identification & locations
Identified by its warmth to the touch (unlike glass), ability to float in saturated salt water, and static charge when rubbed. Found commonly in the Baltic Sea region and the Dominican Republic
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