Is sulfur the responsible for color of yellow Chiapas Amber?

Geraldine Vázquez Bautista,Enrique Valaguez Velázquez,M Zapata Torres,M Meléndez Lira,E Hernández Rodríguez,F Chalé-Lara

doi:10.47566/2021_syv34_1-211201

Abstract

Amber is a fossilized natural resin found in specific areas of the world; its geographical origin is associated to a characteristic color. Amber all over the world share basic characteristics due to a common polymeric matrix; however, its color is associated to the environment where it was formed. In this work, based on a compositional analysis, it is proposed that yellow color of Mexican amber is originated from the sulfur physical and chemical interaction within its polymeric matrix. The effect of sulfur present in yellow Mexican amber is studied by employing X-ray photoelectron and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Results show that sulfur is incorporated inside the polymer matrix with two different chemical environments; one related with sulfur-carbon bonds and the other with sulfur-sulfur bonds. The optical transmission spectrum simulated considering amber as a composite material reproduce the scattering contribution observed experimentally.

Highlights

Amber is a fossilized natural resin found in specific areas of the world; its geographical origin is associated to a characteristic color
The identification of the abovementioned elements is in agreement with the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results
The fact that X-ray photoemission (XPS) is very sensitive to the chemical environment of each element, reflected as a change in peak energy, is very useful to understand how atoms are incorporated within the material

Summary

Introduction

Amber is a fossilized natural resin found in specific areas of the world; its geographical origin is associated to a characteristic color. Amber all over the world share basic characteristics due to a common polymeric matrix; its color is associated to the environment where it was formed. In this work, based on a compositional analysis, it is proposed that yellow color of Mexican amber is originated from the sulfur physical and chemical interaction within its polymeric matrix. Riquelme et al analyzed the presence of sulfur in amber formation makes it an important source of fossilized Chiapas amber and recently formed resins [11], reporting species and geological evidence. Amber deposits are analysis, X-ray diffraction, FTIR and secondary ion mass found in few places: The Baltic Sea, Spain, France, spectrometry; XRD results shown an amorphous pattern

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Results

Conclusion