Gemmological Characteristic of Root Amber from Myanmar

Myanmar is an important amber producing region, which produces numerous varieties of amber. Root amber is one of the special kinds which has varied and complicated inclusions. This paper applies conventional geommological tests, FTIR spectrum, Raman spectrum, SEM with energy spectrum and other methods to test and analyze the gemmological characteristics, internal structure and inclusions of root amber from Myanmar. Testing results show that the average relative density of root amber is 1.09 and the refractive index extent is 1.52 to 1.53(point measurement). In addition, the fluorescence of root amber presents middle to strong white or bulish white or blue colour under long wave ultraviolet light and weak to strong white or bulish white colour under short wave ultraviolet light. The FTIR spectrum indicates that the characteristic vibration peaks of matrix in root amber are consistent with the other ambers from Myanmar.The Raman spectrum shows that the matrix of the root amber is more mature than copal resin. The SEM testing results show that layered structure in the matrix part is not apparent, which concludes that the matrix in root amber has compact structure. The tesing results of Raman spectrum and SEM combined with energy spectrum indicate varied and complicated such as in root amber from Myanmar, include microcrystalline spheres, bubbles, blank pipes, mineral inclusions and floristic clastics. Mineral inclusions such as calcite, pyrite, apatite and silicate have been detected in the experiments.