Each locality produces amber of a distinct type. Often the location of the amber can be derived visually from the amber itself. Baltic amber may have a cloudy appearance, due to air bubbles. The thicker the flow, the more bubbles that remained. In addition this amber often has stellate oak hairs.
Spectral analysis can reveal the location and age of most amber.
Amber comes in many colors. Typically amber golden yellow, but can also be green, red blue and clear. Surprisingly, it is relatively stab le and is insoluble even in many organic solvents. In the 1800's amber was melted and used as a finish on sailboats and other marine ships. Larger pieces of amber have been used by artists for sculpturing.