Amber

[Jill J]

I recently bought some Baltic amber and I was wondering if it is real . Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

[Kane]

Photos are too blurry to discern.

[Darktooth]

Telling if this is real will take more then blurry pictures. Please send clearer pics. Even then there are other tests needed to determine. Unfortunately I don't remember them, because amber is not something I am experienced with. Some who know will see this and respond. Just have some patience.

Also, welcome to the forum!

[Psittacosaur9]

On 1/6/2024 at 10:35 AM, Darktooth said:

Telling if this is real will take more then blurry pictures. Please send clearer pics. Even then there are other tests needed to determine. Unfortunately I don't remember them, because amber is not something I am experienced with. Some who know will see this and respond. Just have some patience.

Well, you've asked the right guy.

 

From the book 'Fossils: Inside Out' by Thomas Wiewandt, published by Wild Horizons Publishing Inc in Canada in 2021, on page 170:

 

Friction Test

"Rubbing amber or copal in your hands will produce heat and smell like tree resin, not plastic. Vigorous rubbing on cloth for 20-60 seconds will generate an electrical charge in amber that attracts hair or dust particles. Copal gets sticky and won't produce a charge."

 

Buoyancy

"Genuine amber (and copal) will float in a mixture of 1/4 cup salt dissolved in 2 cups of warm water - most fakes will sink." Obviously this will only be helpful if you take the amber out of the metal thing.

 

Taste

"Wash a piece of amber in soapy water and taste it - most fakes have a plastic or chemical taste, and amber has none."

 

There are some more tests in the book if you want them.

Edited January 11 by Psittacosaur9
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