First record of the Upper Eocene amber from central Eastern Carpathians (Iapa Valley, Neamt County, Romania)

Abstract

The occurrence of amber in the Upper Eocene deposits of the outer Moldavide Nappes is herein presented. The geological significance and various properties of the amber from the Duraș Site (Neamț County) are, for the first time, discussed. The primary amber occurrence is located in the glauconite-rich siliceous arenites, of the Lucăcești Formation, latest Eocene, i.e., Priabonian, in age. The chemical properties and IR spectra of the amber from the Duraș are similar to those of the Almaschite amber variety, from the same region, but different from other amber varieties, such as Rumanite (Buzău region, South - Eastern Carpathians), Muntenite from the Southern Carpathians, and Schraufite (North - Eastern Carpathians, Bucovina).