Amber

Amber is not a mineral, but fossilized tree resin, which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Much valued from antiquity to the present as a gemstone, amber is made into a variety of decorative objects. Amber is used in jewelry. It has also been used as a healing agent in folk medicine. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents.

Formation & Geology

Amber is fossilized resin (not sap) from ancient forests. The resin must be buried under sediment and subjected to heat and pressure for millions of years to polymerize and harden into amber. Most of the world's amber comes from the Baltic region (dating to the Eocene, 44 million years ago) or the Dominican Republic (which is famous for containing clear inclusions).

Inclusions & Time Capsules

One of the most famous features of amber is its ability to preserve ancient life. Insects, spiders, feathers, and even small lizards have been found trapped inside amber, preserved in perfect 3D detail for millions of years. These inclusions provide invaluable windows into prehistoric ecosystems. Dominican amber is particularly prized for the clarity and frequency of its biological inclusions.

Physical Characteristics

Amber is very light (specific gravity 1.05-1.10), so light that it often floats in salt water. It is warm to the touch (unlike glass or stone) and will generate static electricity when rubbed (the Greek word for amber is "elektron," the root of our word electricity). It is soft (2-2.5) and can be easily scratched.

Imitations & Fakes

Because amber is valuable, it is frequently faked using plastic, resin, or "copal" (young, immature resin). A common test is the "hot needle test": a hot needle touched to real amber smells like pine incense; plastic smells like burning chemical. Also, real amber floats in saturated saltwater, while most plastics sink.

Metaphysical Properties

Amber is considered a solar stone, bringing warmth, healing, and life force. It is famously used for teething necklaces for babies (though effectiveness is debated), based on the belief that succinic acid released by the warmth of the skin provides natural pain relief.