Infrared Spectra as a Means of Determining Botanical Sources of Amber.

Comparison of infrared spectra of amber no older than Oligo-Miocene with present-day resins provides convincing evidence as to source, especially with corroboration from paleobotanical remains and knowledge of living resin producers. Spectroscopy is also useful in establishing that amber in widely separated areas in the Cretaceous and Eocene is from the same botanical source, although it may not be possible to relate these older resins to those from present-day plant populations.