Can anyone please tell me if Amber (used in jewelry) is a mineral?

Question

Hello~~ Can anyone please tell me if Amber is a mineral or not? please explain your answere.


THx~ so much
Your friend ~FUzz

Answer 1

Amber is not a mineral. Amber is petrified tree rosin. It is beautiful, though. And, if you are lucky, you can find interesting things 'frozen in time' embedded in it. Insects have been around since before the dinosaurs and often can be found inside amber.

I understand that amber is a 'good luck charm' if you find it yourself!

Science Teacher

Answer 2

According to definition of Mineral:
Mineral is an inorganic material with certain chemical formula, crystalline structure and should be made in Earth.
Then Amber is not a Mineral.

Answer 3

Amber is the common name for fossil resin that is appreciated for its inherent beauty and is widely used for the manufacture of ornamental objects. Although NOT mineralized, it is sometimes considered and used as a gemstone. Most of the world's amber is in the range of 30–90 million years old. Semi-fossilized resin or sub-fossil amber is called copal.

Answer 4

the process of replacement has taken all the organic matter, carbon, and replaced it with silicon thus the rock that is called amber is now a silicon base rock but because there would be other traped elements in the lattice of the silicon replacement structure the mineral would have inpurity, like chert or when a fossil becomes from bone (carbon) to rock (silicon)

Answer 5

It is not a mineral, but it is used as a gemstone. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber

Answer 6

Amber starts its life as tree sap, usually conifers, thats how insects can get stuck in it and preserved.

Answer 7

No it is not. It is an organically formed residue compound, in the same category as bone jewelry, just organic