THE GEMOLOGICAL AND SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTH COAST AMBER, TAIWAN
The ancient age, stable composition and structure, as well as the beautiful and rare appearance of these mysterious amber pieces, indicate significant geological and gemological importance. The gem-quality amber samples on the northernmost coast of Taiwan have been discovered. In gemstone evaluation, these samples exhibit a dark brown to reddish-brown color, ranging from transparent to translucent, with a resinous luster. The amber samples illustrate abundant surface features and internal inclusions, displaying strong blue fluorescence under long-wave ultraviolet light. Moreover, through the analysis and comparative study of infrared and Raman spectra, it is highly probable that the North Coast Amber sample originates from an angiosperm source and exhibits a relatively high level of maturity. Additionally, we suggest that the North Coast Amber, Sumatran Amber, and Lichi Amber may share a common origin (Dipterocarpaceae) or have been transported from Indonesia to Taiwan at a later stage. Based on the geological context and the characteristics of the samples, we infer the maturation levels of these three localities as follows: Sumatran Amber > North Coast Amber >
Lichi Amber.
Additional information: Miss FEI Wenyi, feiwy@connect.hku.hk