Polished Amber, Dominican Republic

Amber is the fossilized resin of a variety of ancient species of coniferous and flowering trees. It is one of the few organic substances to qualify as a gemstone. Amber's color and opacity is determined by the type of tree that produces the resin, (as well as the density of microscopic air bubbles inside). Amber has the ability to preserve bits of forest debris from millions of years ago. Also, insects, small reptiles, plants and seeds, and even microorganism (like bacteria) are found in amber, and have been examined by scientists for more clues as to how our diverse planet evolved. Amber is used for many cosmetic purposes and in the medicinal field, such as in perfume, incense, skin care, baby teething and more. The oldest Amber recovered dates back to the Upper Carboniferous period, (about 320 million years ago), but most of the commercial Amber found was created by plants that did not evolve until the Jurassic or early Cretaceous periods, (about 20 to 180 million years ago).