Amber with Insect
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://sites.google.com/site/thebrockeninglory/">Brocken Inaglory</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameAmber with Insect
Chemical Formula(C10H16O)n
Mohs Hardness2
Crystal Systemamorphous
Lusterresinous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity1.08
Colorsyellow, orange, brown, reddish-brown
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityBaltic Sea region
Mineral GroupOrganic mineraloid
Usesjewelry, ornamental objects, scientific study, collector
Associated Mineralsfossilized insects, fossilized plants
Rarityuncommon
Description
This image displays several polished, irregularly shaped beads of golden to reddish-brown amber, with some pieces clearly showcasing well-preserved fossilized insects, identified as a mosquito and a fly.
Geological Context
Amber is fossilized tree resin, formed over millions of years when resin secreted by ancient trees hardened and was subsequently buried and subjected to geological processes. The insects were trapped in the sticky resin before it could fully polymerize and fossilize, preserving them within the amber.
