Fourier transform Raman spectroscopic data on the fossil resin siegburgite

Abstract

The fossil resin siegburgite is known from two localities in Europe: Siegburg, near Bonn, and the 'Goitsche,' near Bitterfeld, both in Germany. Raman spectroscopic data on the material proved the polystyrene character of siegburgite and therefore supported the chemical investigations conducted previously. Cinnamic acid, which was identified as a major constituent in recent resins of Liquidambar ssp. (Hamamelidaceae), was included as a standard pointing towards the origin of siegburgite in the Hamamelidaceae. The rapid and non-destructive method used permits a quick distinction of fossil resins, especially when different resin types occur together in the same deposit, as in Bitterfeld.

Non-destructive analysis of amber artefacts from the prehistoric Cioclovina hoard (Romania)

“…It was recently suggested in the specialist literature that chemometric techniques could be applied with the advantage of improving the spectral recognition from background interference (Jehlicka and Edwards, 2008;Jehlicka et al, 2009). Important spectral features and the assignments of Raman bands have been published for fossil resins, including amber from different Cretaceous and Tertiary European sites by Edwards and Farwell (1996), Brody et al (2001), Winkler et al (2001Winkler et al ( , 2003 and Jehlicka et al (2004). The removal of the exomethylene group during progressive diagenesis in amber resins has also been described using FT-Raman spectroscopy (Brody et al, 2001).…”

Raman spectroscopy of minerals and mineral pigments in archaeometry

“…Over 100 amber jewellery objects from Poland, dated to Iron Age, were studied by Raman spectroscopy complemented by positron annihilation spectroscopy . In addition to the classical estimation of the geological age from the polymerization degree, obtained by the intensity ratio between the peaks at 1645 and 1449 cm −1 , the spectral region between 700 and 750 cm −1 was used to distinguish Baltic amber (succinite) from Moravian amber (valchovite). In addition, Rao et al, from the presence of a Raman peak at 1589 cm −1 which is attributed to an unsaturated resin acid, differentiated colophony from amber and copal.…”

Raman spectroscopic study of the formation of fossil resin analogues

“…[18][19][20][21][22][23] Since Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive technique, it is a perfect instrument to study high valuable gems. [24] It is a quick and reliable technique to differentiate between real and imitation ambers, [25] and advanced Raman spectroscopic studies have been carried out not only on ambers from different areas, [26,27] but also on associated resins and other organic compounds originating from Angiosperms and Gymnosperm plants. [28,29] Many studies conclude that maturing reactions or reactivity schemes of the fossil resins seem to occur in two polymerization stages.…”