Mineraloid

Amber

Succinite (C10H16O)

Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow to orange-brown; Luster: Resinous; Crystal structure: Amorphous (organic substance); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 1.05-1.09 (very lightweight, floats in saltwater).

Hardness: 2
Color: Honey-yellow to orange-brown
Luster: Resinous

Identified March 20, 2026More mineraloid →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the fossilized resin of ancient coniferous and deciduous trees. Most specimens date back to the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods (30 to 90 million years ago) through a process of polymerization under heat and pressure.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry (beads, pendants), as an ingredient in perfumes/incense, and in paleontological research to study trapped prehistoric biological inclusions.

Geological facts

Amber is not a true mineral; it is an organic mineraloid. It is famous for occasionally preserving insects, feathers, and plants from millions of years ago in extraordinary detail. The largest deposits are found beneath the Baltic Sea.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its light weight and warmth to the touch (unlike cold stones). It will float in a saturated salt solution and produce a pine-like smell when touched with a hot needle. Found along coastlines after storms or in clay deposits.