Amber, Meaning, Properties, and Facts

What is amber

Amber is fossilized resin, the sticky substance some trees ooze to seal a wound. Buried in sediment, the resin slowly lost its lighter oils while its molecules linked into long chains, and over millions of years it hardened into amber. Like ammonite, it is a fossil, so "amber crystal" is a shop name: amber has no crystal structure at all. Insects, leaves and air bubbles caught in the resin are sealed inside, which is why museums such as the American Museum of Natural History keep research collections of it.

Amber properties

Amber properties are those of a natural polymer: soft, warm to the touch and light enough to float in strong salt water. Rub it on wool and it picks up a static charge; the Greek word for amber, elektron, gave us the word electricity. Gem data is in GIA's amber guide:

Where amber is found

Amber is found where resin-rich ancient forests were buried, and the biggest source by far is the Baltic Sea coast. Baltic amber dates to the Eocene, tens of millions of years ago; it washes up on beaches and is mined in Russia's Kaliningrad region, which produces most of the world's supply, and it is also collected in Poland and Lithuania. Other sources include the Dominican Republic, known for clear amber full of insects and a rare blue-glowing type; Chiapas in Mexico; and Myanmar, whose amber dates to the age of dinosaurs.

Amber vs copal

Amber vs copal is a question of age. Copal is younger resin that has not finished turning into amber: it is softer and often paler, and many inexpensive "amber with insects" pieces, especially from Colombia and Madagascar, are copal. A drop of acetone on a hidden spot leaves amber unchanged but makes copal tacky. Copal is still real, natural resin, and the word also covers fresh resin burned as incense in Mexico and Central America (more in the Wikipedia copal article).

How to tell if amber is real

How to tell if amber is real starts with weight and temperature: real amber feels warm and surprisingly light, while glass feels cold and heavy. Drop it into a glass of water with plenty of salt dissolved in it; amber and copal float, while glass and many plastics sink. Under a longwave UV light most amber glows blue, green or yellow, and real insects sit in natural, tangled poses, not centered and perfect. Pressed amber, made from small pieces heated and fused together, and heat-treated amber with disc-shaped "sun spangles" are real amber, but treated.

Amber care: water and sun

Amber care means a quick rinse in lukewarm water with mild soap, never a soak. Skip hot water and ultrasonic cleaners, and keep perfume, hairspray, alcohol and acetone away from it. Long exposure to light and air slowly darkens amber and can craze its surface, so store it out of direct sun and dry it with a soft cloth. The water safe crystals list covers the rest.

Amber meaning

Amber meaning, in crystal lore, is warmth, energy and protection, and amber teething necklaces are sold as natural pain relief for babies. Those amber benefits are belief, not chemistry, and the US Food and Drug Administration warned in 2018 against teething necklaces because of choking and strangulation risk. The history is older than the lore: Baltic amber traveled south to Rome along trade routes known as the Amber Road, and Greek myth held that amber was the hardened tears of the Heliades, sisters of Phaethon, mourning their brother.

Amber price and value

Amber price and value depend on clarity, color, size, origin and above all what is inside. Clear pieces and rare colors cost more than cloudy ones, a well-preserved insect raises the value, and rare inclusions such as lizards or feathers sit at the top. Copal, pressed amber and treated amber should cost less than natural amber. Quality factors are covered in the International Gem Society's amber guide.

Amber for sale

Amber for sale on geoslut arrives in drops: each piece is one of one, photographed in daylight and labeled with its locality, and the list hears about every drop first.

Amber FAQ

Is amber a stone?

Amber is not a stone in the mineral sense: it is fossilized tree resin, an organic gem like pearl and jet.

What is copal?

Copal is tree resin that has started to harden but is younger and softer than amber. The word also covers fresh resin burned as incense.

Is amber water safe?

Amber is water safe for a quick rinse with mild soap, but not for soaking, hot water or ultrasonic cleaners.

What is amber hardness on the Mohs scale?

Amber hardness is 2 to 2.5 on the Mohs scale, about the same as a fingernail, so sand and metal scratch it easily.

Sources

• Amber, Wikipedia
• Amber, GIA
• Baltic amber, Wikipedia