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Amber

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Gdansk (Danzig), Pomorskie, Poland
© Marco Barsanti

Show Amber Photos (23)
Hardness:2 - 2½


A fossil resin.
In order to qualify as "amber" it is NOT sufficient for a tree resin merely to harden by losing its volatiles, the molecules have to polymerize, which can take millions of years (or at least 100,000 years). After polymerization, amber becomes significantly less soluble in common organic solvents, and so will not become sticky if wetted with alcohol, acetone or gasoline. Much of the material marketed as "amber" (especially that from Colombia and Madagascar) is far too young to be considered amber, and is in reality just dried tree resin.

Classification of Amber

Strunz 8th edition ID:9/C.01-10

9 : Organic Compounds
C : Resins and other compounds
01 : Bernstein series
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Physical Properties of Amber

Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½

Other Names for Amber

Synonyms:
AllingiteAmbarAmbroidAmbroiteChryselectrum
GlessumGlesumLyncuriumLynx-stoneSuccinite
German names:
AgsteinAidsteinAllingitAmbroitBernstein
GrabsteinSuccinit
Japanese names:
コハク
Polish names:
Bursztyn
Spanish names:
AllingitaAmbroitaSuccinita
Traditional Chinese names:
琥珀
Varieties:
AlmashiteAmbrosineBacaliteBurmiteDelatynite
DuxiteGedaniteJaulingiteJeliniteKochenite
MunkteniteMunteniteRosthornite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Amber

Reference List:Flamini A., Graziani G., Grubessi O. (1974) - Inclusi di solfuro di ferro nelle ambre baltiche. Periodico di mineralogia – Roma, pp. 331-338

Internet Links for Amber

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    Localities for Amber

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Friesach - Hüttenberg area
        • Guttaring
    		[var: Rosthornite] G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
      • Lavant valley
        • Wolfsberg
          • St Stefan im Lavanttal
    		[var: Jaulingite] G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
      • Saualpe Mts
        • Görtschitz valley
          • Klein St Paul
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    • Lower Austria
      • Bad Vöslau
        • St Veit an der Triesting
    		[var: Jaulingite] V. R. v. Zepharovich: Sitzungsber. kais. Akad. Wiss. Wien 16:366 (1855)
      • St Pölten
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Styria
      • Köflach
    		[var: Jaulingite] R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
      • Koralpe Mts
        • Wies
          • Eibiswald
    		[var: Rosthornite] R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Inn valley
          • Jenbach
    		[var: Kochenite] R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
          • Kramsach
    		[var: Kochenite] R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
          • Telfs
    		[var: Kochenite] A. Pichler: Jahrb. k. k. geol. Reichsanstalt (1868)
    Burma (Myanmar)
     
    • Kachin State
      • Myitkyina-Mogaung District
    Canada
     
    www.alpinegems.net
    China
     
    • Liaoning Province (Manchuria; Dongbei Region)
      • Fushun Prefecture
        • Fushun City
          • Wanghua District
    		http://www.smartminerals.com/cina2004/art_China_localities.htm
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Ústí Region
        • Bílina (Bilin)
    		[var: Duxite] Bouška, V., Dvořák, Z.: Nerosty severočeské hěndouhelné pánve. Praha: Severočeské doly, a.s., 160 s.
        • Kadaň (Kaaden)
          • Tušimice
    		[var: Duxite] Bouška, V., Dvořák, Z.: Nerosty severočeské hěndouhelné pánve. Praha: Severočeské doly, a.s., 160 s.
        • Most
    		[var: Duxite] Bouška, V., Dvořák, Z.: Nerosty severočeské hěndouhelné pánve. Praha: Severočeské doly, a.s., 160 s.
    Dominican Republic
     
    • Hato Mayor Province
    		http://www.gplatt.demon.co.uk/dominica.htm
    • Sánchez Ramírez Province
    		http://www.gplatt.demon.co.uk/dominica.htm
    • Santiago Province
    		http://www.gplatt.demon.co.uk/dominica.htm
    Germany
     
    • Brandenburg
      • Eberswalde-Finow
        • Ruhlsdorf
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001
    • Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
      • Wolgast
        • Usedom Island
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Bitterfeld
    		[www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
    • Schleswig-Holstein
      • Eiderstedt Peninsula
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001
      • Schwarzenbek
        • Groß Pampau
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001
      • Sylt Island
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001
    Italy
     
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Chiba Prefecture
    		Ryoichi SADANAGA and Michiaki BUNNO (1974) THE WAKABAYASHI MINERAL COLLECTION Bulletin No. 7 The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
        • Ibaraki Prefecture
          • Kita-Ibaraki City
    		Ryoichi SADANAGA and Michiaki BUNNO (1974) THE WAKABAYASHI MINERAL COLLECTION Bulletin No. 7 The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
      • Tohoku Region
        • Iwate Prefecture
    		Kuji Amber Museum; American Museum of Natural History (New York)
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Ongtüstik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Southern-Kazakhstan Oblast')
    Latvia
     
    Lebanon
     
    Lithuania
     
    • Klaipėda County
      • Neringa municipality
        • Neringa
          • Curonian Spit
    • Telšiai County
      • Varniai
    Malaysia
     
    • Borneo
      • Sarawak
    Mexico
     
    • Chiapas
    Poland
     
    • Pomorskie
    		Flamini A., Graziani G., Grubessi O. (1974) - Inclusi di solfuro di ferro nelle ambre baltiche. Periodico di mineralogia – Roma, pp. 331-338 [www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com]
    Romania
     
    • Neamt Co.
      • Piatra
    		[var: Almashite] No reference listed
    • Valcea Co.
    		[var: Muntenite] No reference listed
    Russia
     
    • North-Western Region
      • Kaliningradskaya Oblast'
        • Jantarny (Yantarny; Palmnicken)
    Slovakia
     
    • Prešov Region
      • Spišská Magura Mts
        • Tatranská Javorina
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
    Spain
     
    • Valencian Community
      • Alicante
        • Alicante Co.
    		Casanova Honrubia, Juan Miguel & Canseco Caballé, Manuel, 2002, Minerales de la Comunidad Valenciana : 237 p. Ed. Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo. Alicante
    Sweden
     
    • Skåne
      • Vellinge
        • Skanör
    		Swedish Nat.Musuem
    Syria
    Williamson, 1932. Book of Amber
    Williamson, 1932. Book of Amber
    Ukraine
     
    • L'viv Oblast' (Lviv Oblast'; Lwiw Oblast')
    		Natural History Museum Vienna collection
    USA
     
    • Alaska
      • Aleutians East Borough
    		Kunz, 1898. Gems & Precious Stones of N. America, p.202.
      • Northwest Arctic Borough
        • Chicago Creek
          • Chicago Creek
    		Rocks & Min.: 20:481.
    • Arkansas
      • Hot Spring Co.
        • Perla
    		Rocks & Min.: 63:110.
    • California
      • Ventura Co.
    		C. Lemanski, Jr. (re-entry of lost Mindat data).
    World of Amber
    • Kansas
    		[var: Jelinite] www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/geograph.htm
    C. Lemanski, Jr. (re-entry lost Mindat data).
    • Maryland
      • Anne Arundel Co.
        • Arnold
          • Magothy River
    		 Kunz,1892. Gems & Precious Stones of N. America, p.199.
    • Massachusetts
      • Dukes Co.
    		Gleba, 1978. Massachusetts Mineral & Fossil Localities
      • Nantucket Co.
    		Gleba, 1978: MA Mineral and Fossil Localities
    • Mississippi
      • Tallahatchie Co.
      • Tishomingo Co.
    • New Jersey
      • Burlington Co.
    		 Kunz,1892. Gems & Precious Stones of N. America, p.200.
    Gems and Minerals of America - Jay Ellis Ransom-1974
      • Gloucester Co.
        • Harrisonville
    		Kunz,1892. Gems & Precious Stones of N. America, p.201.
      • Mercer Co.
        • Hamilton Township
    		A Quest for New Jersey Minerals, Robert Speiser(1978).
      • Middlesex Co.
        • New Brunswick
    		The Minerals of NYC & Its Environs, NY Min. Club Bull. Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 68.
    A Quest for New Jersey Minerals, Robert Speiser(1978).
    The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 5, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 92.
    The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 5, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 92.
      • Monmouth Co.
        • Belmar
    		The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 5, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 91; A Quest for New Jersey Minerals, Robert Speiser(1978).
    Gems and Minerals of America - Jay Ellis Ransom-1974
    • New York
    		The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull. Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 84.
        • Staten Island Borough
          • Richmond Co.
    		The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull., Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 59.
    • North Carolina
    		World of Amber
    World of Amber
    World of Amber
    • Rhode Island
      • Washington Co.
        • New Shoreham
          • Block Island
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston Co.
    		[var: Ambrosine]
    • Tennessee
      • Hardin Co.
    		Zeitner ,1968. Appalachian Mineral & Gem Trails
    • Texas
      • Brewster Co.
        • Alpine
    R&M 66:3 pp 196-224
      • Maverick Co.
    		BEG Rept Invest 42
    • Washington
      • Chelan Co.
        • Wenatchee District
    		Cannon, B. (1975): Minerals of Washington, p.40
      • King Co.
        • Issaquah
    		Cannon, B. (1975): Minerals of Washington, p.41
    • Wyoming
      • Campbell Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals 76:383
      • Carbon Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals 76:384
      • Teton Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals 76:390
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.