Succinite, Baltic Amber: A Chemical Masterpiece of Nature

Succinite, Baltic amber, is one of the most appreciated fossil resins. Its beauty has fascinated people since prehistoric times. It is a substance, and also gemstone, whose uniqueness is due to its compelling, though still not fully understood, physicochemical nature. In this article, some facts about the physical and chemical properties of succinite in order to find an answer for questions about the unique properties of this resin, such as color, transparency, texture etc., are discussed. These properties are among the factors that determine the choice of Baltic amber as a gemstone. Commonly known properties of succinite, but also some less obvious features, have been linked to the organic and inorganic chemical composition and structural factors, including the sophisticated supramolecular structure masterfully created by nature. Changes of the properties of succinite used as a jewelry stone are discussed as a reflection of changes in its physicochemical nature. In this light, some methods that can be used to identify succinite (i.e., infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and their relevance to the classification of fossil resins are briefly discussed. This article highlights an important point: only by understanding the chemical and physical nature of the material we able to identify, modify and effectively use the goods that have been given to us by mother nature.