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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography
Published on: November 14, 2025
Characterization of Eocene fossil resin from Moravia, Czech Republic: Insights into macromolecular structure
Martina Havelcová1, Vladimír Machovič2, Alexandra Špaldoňová1
1Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics AS CR, V Holešovičkách 41, 182 09 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
Two pieces of studlovite - Eocene amber from Študlov (Southeast Moravia, Czech Republic) were investigated. To arrive at a more detailed description, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used. Both studlovite samples revealed signs of the same plant source, with higher polymerisation and a higher degree of maturation of the fossilized matter. Despite their close spectral resemblance, they differed in their detailed chemical composition, and in structure. Layering of one of the pieces studied showed how the resin was built and what impact the process had on the chemical composition of the amber. Characterization of the organic matter was completed with an analysis of trace elements in amber samples using scanning electron microscope combined with elemental distribution analysis (SEM/EDAX). The results demonstrated the paleoenvironmental conditions that occurred in the plant during resin exudation following wounding.
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