Organics : Amber, etc

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the typical hardness of Amber on the Mohs scale?

3.5 to 4

2 to 2.5 (correct)

5 to 5.5

2.75 to 3.5

What is the characteristic polish luster of Amber?

resinous—to vitreous (correct)

earthy

adamantine

metallic

What is the typical color range of Amber?

Only yellow and golden

Only black and dark brown

Only white, orange-to-red, or brown

Transparent to opaque, including yellow, golden, white, orange-to-red, or brown (correct)

What feature of Amber increases its value?

Pieces with insect or plant inclusions Signup and view all the answers

Which market has a strong demand for Amber?

Chinese market Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum age requirement for tree resin to be classified as amber?

At least a million years old Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between copal and amber?

Copal is softer and melts at a lower temperature than amber Signup and view all the answers

What is the age range of copal?

Less than a million years old Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the tree resin over time to form amber or copal?

It undergoes a process of polymerization Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the hardness of copal and amber?

Amber is harder than copal Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of transparent red amber in terms of its value?

It is more valuable than golden amber Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between transparent red amber and golden amber?

Their transparency levels Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of strong fluorescence on the appearance of amber?

It gives amber a bluish or greenish appearance Signup and view all the answers

Which type of amber is not mentioned in the passage?

Blue amber Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between copal and amber?

Copal is a type of fossilized resin Signup and view all the answers

Which region in Europe is the world's leading source of Amber?

Baltic Sea region Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Amber and Copal?

Copal is softer than Amber Signup and view all the answers

What is the second-largest producer of Amber?

Dominican Republic Signup and view all the answers

What is a common shape of Amber jewelry?

Beads Signup and view all the answers

What is a country where Amber is also found?

Mexico Signup and view all the answers

What is a common treatment for cloudy amber?

Heating it in rapeseed oil Signup and view all the answers

What is a method used to create larger pieces of amber?

Pressing small pieces or chips together under gentle heat and pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is a common effect of staining amber?

Producing a green color Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible result of heating amber in rapeseed oil?

Creating 'sun spangles' Signup and view all the answers

What is a common reason for dyeing amber?

To make it look more aged Signup and view all the answers

What is a natural imitator of Amber?

Copal Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common artificial imitator of Amber?

Bakelite Signup and view all the answers

What is another name for Ammonite?

Ammolite Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the imitation coral made from calcite and silica?

Gilson Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the Maori name for Abalone Shell?

Paua Signup and view all the answers

What type of material is often used to make imitations of coral?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the type of coral also known as 'King' or 'Akabar coral'?

Black coral Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the type of coral also known as 'oxblood'?

Red coral Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the type of coral also known as 'pelle d'angelo'?

Pink coral Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the type of coral also known as 'salmon'?

Vivid pink coral Signup and view all the answers

What can cause amber to change its color?

Oxidation Signup and view all the answers

What is commonly found embedded in amber?

Flower parts, leaves, pine needles, and insects Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of Moldavite?

It has few or no included bubbles and can be spherical or flattened Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the massive crystalline variety of fluorite?

Derbyshire spar Signup and view all the answers

What was obsidian used for in prehistoric times?

Fashioning spear points, knives, and tools Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Organics and Collectors' Stones

Amber:
- High demand from China
- Pieces with insect or plant inclusions are more valuable
- Soft, with a hardness of 2 to 2.5 on the Mohs scale
- Can be transparent to opaque, with a resinous to vitreous luster
- Colors include yellow, golden, orange, red, brown, and white
- Formed from hardened tree resin, at least a million years old
Coral:
- High demand from China
- Types include calcareous coral and conchiolin coral
- Semi-translucent to opaque, with a waxy to vitreous luster
- Colors include white, cream, pink, red, orange, blue, purple, and lavender
- Formed from the skeletal remains of tiny marine-animal colonies
Moldavite:
- Highly prized in the Chinese market
- Hardness of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale
- Transparent to translucent, with a vitreous luster
- Colors include green, brown, and rarely, blue or purple
- Formed from meteorite impact
Ivory:
- High demand from China
- Soft, with a hardness of 2.25 to 2.75 on the Mohs scale
- Polish luster is greasy to dull
- Colors include white, light yellow, and translucent to opaque
- Formed from elephant tusks
Shell:
- Types include mother-of-pearl, abalone, helmet shell, and queen conch shell
- Colors include white, pink, orange, yellow, green, brown, and blue
- Formed from the shells of marine mollusks
Jet:
- Formed from lignite coal
- Black, with a hardness of 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale
- Used in mourning jewelry in the Victorian era
Benitoite:
- Rare, with a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale
- Colors include blue, white, and rarely, red
- Formed from the mineral benitoite
Fluorite:
- Low hardness, with a Mohs scale rating of 5
- Colors include black, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple
- Formed from hydrothermal activity
Kyanite:
- Hardness varies depending on direction, 7 across the crystal and 5 along its length
- Colors include blue, white, and rarely, green
- Formed from high-pressure metamorphism
Sphene:
- Low hardness, with a Mohs scale rating of 5
- Colors include yellow, green, brown, orange, and rarely, red
- Formed from hydrothermal activity
Tortoise Shell:
- Formed from the shells of Atlantic hawksbill sea turtles
- Colors include brown, yellow, orange, and red
- Used in jewelry and decorative objects
Ammonite:
- Fossilized remains of hard-shelled, squid-like marine mollusks
- Colors include brown, yellow, orange, and red
- Formed from the fossilization of ammonites

Mohs Scale

Apatite: 5
Benitoite: 6.5
Coral: 3.5
Fluorite: 5
Ivory: 2.25 to 2.75
Jet: 2.5 to 4
Kyanite: 7 across the crystal, 5 along its length
Moldavite: 5 to 6
Obsidian: 5 to 5.5
Shell: 3.5
Sphene: 5
Tortoise Shell: 2.5, fairly tough

Color and Luster

Amber: resinous to vitreous luster
Coral: waxy to vitreous luster
Ivory: greasy to dull luster
Jet: vitreous luster
Moldavite: vitreous luster
Obsidian: resinous to vitreous luster
Shell: greasy or pearly luster
Tortoise Shell: resinous to vitreous luster

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge of rocks and minerals, including obsidian, sphene, and amber, and their distinct characteristics such as color, transparency, and formation.