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. The 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.