How do I test for geniuine Amber ?

Question

I didn't know what category to place this so I put it here.

I'm a mineral collector and
I love Amber..the rock..or better yet the prehistoric treesap! lol
However I can't tell if its fake or if it's Copal. I purchased two large specimen's with scorpion inside it. Looks beautiful but i really would like to know if it's really amber or something else. Is there any way to test it? Any way to tell?
If i put something hot to it it will only tell me from what type of tree it's from.
Can someone tell me? Thanks I'd appreciate it.

Let me make a correction. I havent tested it. Havent put a hot item to it so I have no clue about anything.

I'm going to test it along with my entire amber collection this weekend and then vote. Ugh..my big scorpion one sank in saltless water. Will try the salt and hot needle method soon.

Answer 1

Amber floats in salt water. When rubbed with cloth will charge with electricty and should feel warm to the touch. If you heat it it will soften and burn.
.Amber can be classified based on chemical composition, usually as one of two fossil resins: succinite or retinite. Other fossil resins include gedanite, krantzite, beckerite, stantienite, glessite, schraufite and delatynite. These fossil resins mostly dont have inclusions and contain small amounts, if any, succinic acid.

Answer 2

Sorry but the two specimens with scorpions are 100% fake, they are modern scorpions which have been cast into brown plastic and turn up at fairs, flee markets etc. all the time.
The salt water test (10 teaspoons of salt in 250ml. of water) will separate MOST but not all synthetic resin substitutes from amber which will float while they sink. Always wash the specimen in clean water after this test as the salt must not be left on the amber.
To tell copal from amber put a small drop of ethyl alcohol on an inconspicuous area and leave it for a minute. If the specimen is copal there will be a soft spot which will show the mark of your fingerprint if you touch it and will dry to a white mark - there is often a strong aromatic smell as it dries, amber does not react.
A hot needle touched on both amber and copal will cause melting and an aromatic smell but on most plastics the smell is acrid and rather unpleasant.

Answer 3

Amber usually contains remains of animal life due to the way it was formed.The beauty of the amber is the insect life that shows trapped inside the stone.

Answer 4

It's very light.

If you rub it , i think you can charge it. Mind you this could happen to the fakes as well.