How to identify Amber

To correctly identify Amber (Fossilized Tree Resin), check each of these features in order. Many rocks and minerals look alike, so cross-reference multiple properties before deciding.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Color

   Overall color and any zoning or banding

   Typically yellow, orange, brown; less commonly red, green, blue, or white. Can be clear, cloudy, or opaque.

2. 2

   Luster

   How the surface reflects light: metallic, vitreous, dull

   Resinous to waxy.

3. 3

   Texture

   Grain size and surface feel: coarse, fine, glassy

   Smooth, often with conchoidal fracture surfaces. Can feel slightly warm to the touch due as it is a poor conductor of heat.

4. 4

   Crystal Form

   Shape of visible crystals or crystal faces

   Amorphous; does not form crystals.

5. 5

   Cleavage

   How it breaks: flat cleavage planes vs irregular fracture

   None, as it is amorphous.

6. 6

   Geological Environment

   The rock formation and setting where it occurs

   Found in sedimentary deposits, often associated with lignite or coal seams, or washed ashore from marine deposits. Primary deposits are typically ancient forest soils or deltaic sediments; secondary deposits are often found in marine or fluvial sediments where it has been redeposited.

Key Facts

Hardness

2-2.5 (Mohs scale)

Specific Gravity

1.05-1.10 g/cm³ (will float in saturated saltwater)

Crystal System

Amorphous (no crystal structure)

Color

Yellow, orange, brown, red, green, blue, white, black

Luster

Resinous, waxy, dull

Transparency

Transparent to opaque

Fracture

Conchoidal

Cleavage

None

Composition

Complex mixture of organic compounds, primarily polymerized isoprenoids (e.g., succinic acid is characteristic of Baltic amber)

Physical characteristics

• Crystal Habit: Amorphous masses, nodules, stalactitic forms, or irregular lumps.
• Cleavage Type: None
• Fracture Type: Conchoidal, brittle
• Tenacity: Brittle
• Luster Type: Resinous to waxy

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