Jordanian amber, dating back approximately 140 million years to the Early Cretaceous period, represents a unique geological and paleontological archive.
اضافة اعلان
Among the remarkable features observed within this amber is the presence of pyrite (iron sulfide, FeS₂), which provides important insights into the geochemical conditions that prevailed during and after the formation of the amber.
Pyrite is commonly found filling fractures, cracks, and cavities within the Jordanian amber. In many specimens, pyrite crystals coat or completely envelop organic inclusions such as plant tissues, insects, or other biological remains. This process often preserves the original shape of the organic material, producing shiny, metallic surfaces with a distinctive silver or golden luster.
The formation of pyrite within the amber indicates anoxic (oxygen-poor) conditions during early diagenesis. These conditions allowed sulfur-reducing bacteria to interact with iron-rich fluids, leading to the precipitation of pyrite inside the amber matrix. The presence of pyrite suggests that the resin, after hardening, was exposed to mineral-rich groundwater or sediments before complete fossilization.
Pyritization in Jordanian amber is scientifically significant, as it enhances the preservation of fine biological details and provides valuable information about the paleoenvironment, including redox conditions, microbial activity, and geochemical processes operating at the time. This phenomenon also confirms that Jordanian amber underwent complex post-depositional alterations while still maintaining exceptional fossil integrity.
The coexistence of amber, organic inclusions, and pyrite makes Jordanian amber an important reference material for international studies in paleobotany, paleoentomology, and geochemistry, further highlighting Jordan’s unique contribution to the global record of fossil resins.
The picture shows Silver Pyrite covers a growing seed.
