REAL OR NOT?

• Faked amber
  
• Tests
  

In the middle of the nineteenth century scientists discovered ways to synthesize natural precious substances and Baltic amber fell prey to falsification. Nowadays the falsification of amber (especially inclusions) is widespread. People who know only a few things about amber could be deceived. The falsifications could be sold as natural amber to them and sometimes for high price. In this article we will observe the most popular amber falsifications and the ways to distinguish them from real amber.

MATERIALS MOSTLY USED FOR AMBER IMITATIONS:

• Copal

• Glass

• Fenolic resins

• Celluloid

• Casein

• Modern plastic

Copal
Copal is sold as Baltic amber, but in fact this is very young tree resins( 1000- 1million years old). Natural inclusions are possible in Copal, but usually they are falsified. Insects are inserted in them that are too big and too good-looking. Copal melts at rather a low temperature (lower than 150 C ), and tends to melts rather than burn. After heating it diffuses the "sweet" smell of burning resins.

Glass
It is easy to distinguish glass from amber: it is more solid; it cannot be scratched by metal. Glass is cold and fireproof.

Fenolic resins
Frequently, this material is found in artificial amber beads. These amber beads have especially exact shape (oval, faceted), the color is very similar to real amber (dark red, cloudy yellow, limpid). After heating it does not diffuse the smell of pine-tree resins, which is characteristic for Baltic amber.

Celluloid
Celluloid (cellulose nitrate) is usually yellow and cloudy. Optically it is difficult to distinguish it from amber. Celluloid is more solid and not so combustible. After heating it diffuses the smell of burnt plastic.

Casein
This is a plastic made from milk. The beads have cloudy, turbid yellow color. It is a little bit heavier than amber. After heating it diffuses the smell of burnt plastic.

Modern plastic
Modern plastic (polyester, polystyrene) are used to produce artificial amber and inclusions. Optically this substitute can hardly be distinguished because with it authentic amber colors and limpidity can be obtained. Like in Copal, falsified inclusions are too big (more than 10 mm) and clearly seen, inserted in the very center of plastic. After heating it diffuses the smell of burnt plastic.

TESTS TO ASCERTAIN REAL AMBER

"Smell" tests

What is amber?
Formation
Morphology
Inclusions
Colours
From soil and water
Treatment
Real or not?
Qualities
Amber routes
Archeological finds
Amber in
medicine
Relatives throughout the World
Museum in museum

• "Rubbing" tests
  (The best way is to rub into the palm of the hand) It is possible to heat real amber by rubbing until it releases the smell of pine- tree resins. This needs a very strong hand, as it is rather difficult to heat amber (especially when polished) to the necessary temperature, and it could be difficult to make an experiment with amber set in jewelry, as trying to rub it into other materials the amber could get scratched.

• "Hot needle" tests- the most effective
  To stick a heated needle into an imperceptible place in the amber (a hole of a drilled bead, etc.). If you smell definite pine-tree resins it means it is real amber. Deficiency: the slight mark of burning remains-this is incorrectable.

• Amber is fragile - sticking with a hot needle you will notice some cracks, while a needle will pierce plastic without cracking it.

Salt-water test

The specific gravity of amber (copal and polystyrene also) (1.04-1.1) is a little bit lower than the specific gravity of salt-water (1.15). Therefore, those materials will all float in the water, while others will sink.

Pour 7-8 full spoons of salt into 300ml of water and stir. After several minutes of stirring the salt will dissolve. Carry out the test and wash the sample with pure water. Deficiency: it will not detect polystyrene and copal; and jewelry (with metal, strings of beads and clasps make the piece sink).

To be finally convinced that floating material is amber, the "hot needle" test is indispensable.

IR-spectroscopy

IR-spectroscopy is the most effective scientific method for identifying fossil resins. Baltic amber could be characterized by IR-spectrum segment called "Baltic amber shoulder".

Reliable shops

There are a lot of complicated methods how to ascertain natural amber, however, the safest way to purchase Real amber is by buying it in reliable shops. There you'll also be given a certificate which testifies that you have bought Real amber.

Literature