title: Examination of amber and related materials by NMR spectroscopy.
abstract: Examination of the solid-state (13)C and solution (1)H NMR spectra of fossilized resins (ambers) has generated five groupings of materials based on spectral characteristics. The worldwide Group A is associated with the botanical family of the Araucariaceae. The worldwide Group B is associated with the Dipterocarpaceae. Baltic amber or succinite (Group C) is related to Group A but with a disputed conifer source. Amber from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa is associated with the Fabaceae, the genus Hymenaea in particular. The minor Group E contains the rare fossil polystyrene. The spectra of jet indicate that it is a coal-like material with a rank between lignite and sub-bituminous coal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Santiago-Blay
authors.forename: Yuyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Levy
keywords: amber; copal; jet; paleobotany; plant exudates; resins