Amber is an organic gem, formed over millions of years through the fossilization of vegetable/plant resin. This fossilized resin is found in various parts of the world, originating from diverse paleobotanical sources. Amber throughout the world ranges in age, the oldest from from the Carboniferous era (248 to 590 million years ago), and the most recent from the Terciary era (2 to 65 million years ago). The majority of amber deposits date back to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Carbon-dating indicates that amber in Chiapas (Mexico) was formed during the late Oligocene to early Miocene periods, between 22.5 and 26 million years ago (Poinar 1992:39).
