organic gemstone
Amber
Succinates (fossilized tree resin), approximately C10H16O
Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: golden yellow to honey brown; Luster: resinous; Structure: amorphous; Cleavage: none; Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- golden yellow to honey brown
- Luster
- resinous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.0-2.5 on Mohs scale; Color: golden yellow to honey brown; Luster: resinous; Structure: amorphous; Cleavage: none; Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.10 (floats in salt water)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the fossilization of resin from extinct coniferous trees, typically dating back 30 to 90 million years (Cenozoic or Mesozoic eras). It is not a mineral but an organic polymer.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry-making (beads, pendants), as a decorative ornament, and scientifically for the study of trapped paleoatological inclusions like insects or plant matter.
Geological facts
Amber is famous for preserving delicate organisms for millions of years. The oldest amber dates back to the Carboniferous period, about 320 million years ago.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its lightness, warmth to the touch, and its ability to float in highly saturated salt water. Common locations include the Baltic Sea region, Dominican Republic, and Myanmar.
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