Weight (Specific Gravity): Very Low – ~1.05-1.10. It is so light it will often float in saturated salt water, a key test to distinguish it from plastic imitations.
Treatment: Amber is commonly treated to improve clarity and create decorative effects.
Clarification (Heating): Gently heated in oil to remove internal bubbles and stress cracks, creating “clarified” or “stabilized” amber.
Pressing (Ambroid): Small pieces and dust are fused under heat and pressure to form a larger, reconstituted block.
Dyeing: To produce uncommon colors like green or intense red.
Coating/Backing: Often coated with a dark backing to enhance the appearance of inclusions.
Body (Clarity/Appearance): Amber ranges from transparent to opaque. Its “body” is defined by its color (cognac, lemon, butter, cherry), clarity, and the presence of inclusions (insects, plant matter, gas bubbles). These inclusions are its most prized feature. It has no cleavage, is brittle with a conchoidal fracture, and exhibits a resinous luster.
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