Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and Rosin

This paper presents a spectroscopic analysis and solubility study of rosin, copal, and Burmese amber samples to reveal the structural changes that occur during amber formation. The infrared spectra indicate that during the long geological process of amber formation, small resin molecules first cross...

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Main Authors: Feng Bai, Huifang Liang, Hongting Qu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Spectroscopy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/6904541
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author Feng Bai
Huifang Liang
Hongting Qu
author_facet Feng Bai
Huifang Liang
Hongting Qu
author_sort Feng Bai
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a spectroscopic analysis and solubility study of rosin, copal, and Burmese amber samples to reveal the structural changes that occur during amber formation. The infrared spectra indicate that during the long geological process of amber formation, small resin molecules first crosslinked and slowly oxidized, eventually forming a stable organic polymer mixture. An analysis of Raman peak areas demonstrated that among the tested samples, the degree of polymerization is highest in Burmese amber and lowest in rosin. Ultraviolet-visible spectra indicate the presence of unsaturated bonds (e.g., carbonyl groups) or conjugated systems in Burmese amber, copal, and rosin. The evaluation of amber, rosin, and copal solubility in six solvents (ethanol, acetone, 1,4-dioxane, ethylacetate, N,N-dimethylamide, and dichloromethane) demonstrated that solubility decreases in the following order: rosin > copal > Burmese amber. Together, the results suggest that the structure of Burmese amber includes large organic molecules containing six-membered rings along with CH2, CH3, C=O, C=C, C–O, and C–C groups.
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spelling doaj-art-1a1fb9794a514f0ea2c7b5d1881f2ee52025-02-03T01:02:23ZengWileyJournal of Spectroscopy2314-49202314-49392019-01-01201910.1155/2019/69045416904541Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and RosinFeng Bai0Huifang Liang1Hongting Qu2School of Gemmology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Gemmology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Gemmology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, ChinaThis paper presents a spectroscopic analysis and solubility study of rosin, copal, and Burmese amber samples to reveal the structural changes that occur during amber formation. The infrared spectra indicate that during the long geological process of amber formation, small resin molecules first crosslinked and slowly oxidized, eventually forming a stable organic polymer mixture. An analysis of Raman peak areas demonstrated that among the tested samples, the degree of polymerization is highest in Burmese amber and lowest in rosin. Ultraviolet-visible spectra indicate the presence of unsaturated bonds (e.g., carbonyl groups) or conjugated systems in Burmese amber, copal, and rosin. The evaluation of amber, rosin, and copal solubility in six solvents (ethanol, acetone, 1,4-dioxane, ethylacetate, N,N-dimethylamide, and dichloromethane) demonstrated that solubility decreases in the following order: rosin > copal > Burmese amber. Together, the results suggest that the structure of Burmese amber includes large organic molecules containing six-membered rings along with CH2, CH3, C=O, C=C, C–O, and C–C groups.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/6904541
spellingShingle Feng Bai
Huifang Liang
Hongting Qu
Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and Rosin
Journal of Spectroscopy
title Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and Rosin
title_full Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and Rosin
title_fullStr Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and Rosin
title_full_unstemmed Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and Rosin
title_short Structural Evolution of Burmese Amber during Petrifaction Based on a Comparison of the Spectral Characteristics of Amber, Copal, and Rosin
title_sort structural evolution of burmese amber during petrifaction based on a comparison of the spectral characteristics of amber copal and rosin
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/6904541
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AT huifangliang structuralevolutionofburmeseamberduringpetrifactionbasedonacomparisonofthespectralcharacteristicsofambercopalandrosin
AT hongtingqu structuralevolutionofburmeseamberduringpetrifactionbasedonacomparisonofthespectralcharacteristicsofambercopalandrosin