Characteristics of Amber:

Chemical Name: Oxygenated hydrocarbon

Formula: Organic

Colors: White, yellow, orange, red, brown, blue, black, green

Structure: Amorphous

Hardness: 2-2.5

Specific Gravity: 1.05-1.09

Refractive Index: 1.54

Lustre: Resinous

Streak: White

Locations: Eastern Europe, Dominican Republic, USA

What is Amber? 

The fossilized tree resin from a prehistoric pine tree that was common in the Baltics, Amber is also found in a few other locations. True Amber is around 25-60 million years old, and specimens can function tiny time capsules, preserving long-extinct plants and insects – these are highly valued. The Greeks noted how Amber becomes charged when rubbed with fur or wool; the word for amber in Greek, elektron, is the root of the word “electricity”. Amber has a low density and can float on salt water, so it is often found along seashores.