Amber

Amber fossilised tree resin including Baltic, Dominican, and Burmese varieties with inclusions, identification, and distinguishing from copal.

By Fabian Moor Last updated
species/amber baltic dominican copal identification/inclusions organic

Introduction

Amber is fossilised tree resin, typically 20–100+ million years old. Valued
for its warm golden colour, transparency, and remarkable preservation of
ancient life forms, amber provides a window into prehistoric ecosystems.

Unlike most gems, amber is entirely organic, formed from the resin of
ancient coniferous trees.

Formation and Composition

How amber forms:

Formation Process

  1. Tree exudes sticky resin (response to injury)
  2. Resin may trap insects, plant material, debris
  3. Resin is buried by sediment
  4. Over millions of years, polymerisation occurs
  5. Volatile compounds evaporate; resin hardens
  6. Becomes amber after ~2–10 million years

Composition

  • Organic polymers: No fixed chemical formula
  • Main components: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
  • Variable: Composition differs by source tree
  • Succinic acid: Baltic amber contains 3–8% [1]

Physical Properties [2]

Property Value
Hardness 2–2.5 Mohs (very soft)
Specific gravity 1.05–1.10 (floats in salt water)
Refractive index 1.539–1.545 (spot)
Lustre Resinous
Fracture Conchoidal
Static electricity Attracts paper when rubbed

Major Sources

Source Age Characteristics
Baltic (Europe) 40–50 million years Yellow to cognac; succinite; most common
Dominican Republic 20–30 million years Blue fluorescence; rare blue amber
Myanmar (Burmese) ~100 million years Cretaceous; scientifically valuable
Mexican (Chiapas) 20–30 million years Similar to Dominican
Indonesian 20–30 million years Various qualities

Colour Varieties

Amber occurs in many colours:

Common Colours

  • Honey/cognac: Most common; warm golden brown
  • Yellow: Light to golden yellow
  • Cherry: Reddish-brown; treated or natural
  • Green: Rare; natural or treated
  • White (bone): Opaque; from micro-bubbles

Blue Amber

Dominican blue amber is exceptionally rare:

  • Appears normal in transmitted light
  • Shows blue fluorescence in UV/sunlight
  • Caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • Commands significant premiums

Inclusions

Amber famously preserves ancient life:

Biological Inclusions

  • Insects: Flies, ants, beetles, wasps, spiders
  • Plant material: Leaves, flowers, seeds, pollen
  • Hair/feathers: Rare; scientifically important
  • Air bubbles: Common; create cloudiness

Value of Inclusions

Inclusions can dramatically increase value:

  • Rare or unusual specimens: Exceptional prices
  • Well-preserved, visible insects: Premium
  • Multiple inclusions in one piece: Valuable
  • Scientific importance: Museum interest

Common inclusions (gnats, air bubbles) add less value.

Amber vs Copal

Identification Tests

Amber Authenticity Tests
Test Amber Plastic/Glass Copal
Salt water float Floats (SG ~1.08) Usually sinks Floats
Hot needle Piney, resinous smell Chemical/acrid smell Softer, sticky
UV fluorescence Blue-green (Baltic) Often orange/none Variable
Acetone test No effect May damage surface Surface softens
Static electricity Attracts paper May or may not Attracts paper

Treatments

Common amber treatments:

Clarification

  • Heat/pressure treatment to clear cloudy amber
  • Creates "sun spangles" (disc-shaped stress marks)
  • Very common; accepted practice
  • Often not disclosed

Other Treatments

  • Dyeing: Changes colour (especially green, cherry)
  • Heated/pressed: Reconstituted from small pieces
  • Coated: Surface enhancement
  • Filled: Repairs or creates fake inclusions

Fake Inclusions Warning

Care and Durability

Amber requires gentle handling:

  • Hardness: 2–2.5 (very easily scratched)
  • Solvents: Avoid alcohol, perfume, hairspray
  • Heat: Can crack or cloud
  • Sunlight: May darken over time
  • Cleaning: Warm water, soft cloth only
  • Storage: Keep away from harder gems

References

  1. ↑ 1. Anderson, K.; Botto, R. (1992). The nature and fate of natural resins in the geosphere—II. Identification, classification and nomenclature of resinites. Organic Geochemistry, 18(6), 829–841. DOI: 10.1016/0146-6380(92)90051-x.
  2. ↑ 2. Read, P. (2008). Gemmology (3rd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN: 978-0-7506-6449-3. DOI: 10.4324/9780080507224.

Related Topics

Gemstone Treatments