PROBLEMS OF FORENSIC GEMOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF RAW AMBER AND WAYS TO SOLVE THEM

Abstract

The relevance of this scientific article is determined by the problems that arise during the expert
examination of raw amber in Ukraine. The established practice of assessing the value of raw amber is based on price
lists developed by the State Gemological Centre of Ukraine, which are commercial instruments and do not ensure
the principles of legality, independence, objectivity and completeness of research in the form of forensic gemological
expertise, causing dissatisfaction among market participants. Therefore, the analysis of problematic aspects of expert
research on amber is the purpose of this scientific article. To achieve this goal, the task was set to identify contradictions
in the current assessment methods and to initiate a new approach to the formation of price lists for raw amber. In the
course of the study, methods of critical analysis of regulatory and methodological support, comparative analysis and
synthesis were used. A detailed analysis of the criteria for amber quality (texture, inclusions, cracks, shape, colour,
transparency) set out in the current price lists developed by the State Gemological Centre of Ukraine was carried
out. In addition, it was found that the criteria in the official price lists are vague, ambiguous, contradictory and do
not reflect the real market value of amber. It has been proven that the current price lists only determine the estimated
value and cannot be used in forensic examination, as they do not ensure the principles of objectivity and completeness.
T
he scientific novelty of this study lies in substantiating the need to abandon the use of current price lists developed
by the State Gemological Centre of Ukraine in forensic examination. In addition, a new gemological classification of
raw amber is proposed, based on the principle of inheritance of properties (colour, transparency, fissuring, inclusions)
from raw materials to finished products, which allows for objective coding of samples; An algorithm for forming
price lists has been developed, taking into account the gemmological, technological and economic links between
raw materials and products on the market. The algorithm involves the following stages: assessment of the consumer
properties of the sample → selection of the product prototype and determination of its value → determination of the
value of raw materials → formation of the price list. The results of the study, which are of certain practical significance,
can be used to develop new price lists for use in expert research. The proposed algorithm has been implemented in
the form of software developed by employees of the Dnipropetrovsk Scientific Research Expert-Criminalistic Centre
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. This software product allows experts to determine the market value of
raw materials based on the prices of actual products, which ensures the objectivity and completeness of the study and
can serve as a reliable tool for regulating the amber market.