On this page
UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural organic and biogenic materials · Organic or biogenic material · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Mammoth Ivory
Fossil or sub-fossil tusk material from mammoths, listed as "Mammoth Ivory" in GB/T Annex A Table A.3; its age and source must be verified. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Mammoth Ivory forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale; where its colour and optical effects come from, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify Mammoth IvoryIdentification points from the research literature; how far lab testing can go
- Treatments and enhancements of Mammoth Ivory3 registered treatments: status, stability, how common they are and identification leads
- Caring for and wearing Mammoth IvoryCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them
- Hardness, density and refractive index of Mammoth IvoryEach value with its source and check date
- Mammoth Ivory in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name; and: Has any of GIA, FTC, CIBJO or Gem-A put a name for it on record here?
- Listing and disclosing Mammoth IvoryThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale
- Standard clauses that define Mammoth IvoryWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Mammoth ivory is tusk material — fossil or subfossil — from the extinct mammoth (Mammuthus), an animal of the Late Pleistocene that lived roughly 350,000 to 10,000 years before present. It is organic material of animal origin, not a mineral species. Hydroxyapatite forms the bulk of it, together with the carbonate-bearing variety, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, along with organic matter such as collagen; burial and weathering raise the crystallinity of the hydroxyapatite while reducing organic protein, the change increasing from the dentine outward to the surface. Phase transformations accompanying burial encourage iron oxides, manganese oxides and hydroxides, and iron sulfides to crystallize on the surface and inside cracks, which is what gives the familiar brown exterior. Extraction of mammoth ivory normally happens in natural permafrost deposits close to rivers, lakes or basins. Its Schreger-line angles set it apart from elephant ivory, being generally smaller in mammoth material. NOTE: because mammoths are extinct and unlisted by CITES, their compliance status differs from that of CITES-regulated African elephant ivory (Loxodonta africana I/II); the source's legality turns on the species involved and the jurisdiction.
Scope: Applies to an overview of the composition, origin of the brown colour, age and occurrence of mammoth ivory (fossil/subfossil mammoth tusk material), and gives its distinction from elephant ivory and the species compliance boundary (mammoths are extinct); no assertion is made on compliance determinations for specific samples.
Sources G&G Summer 2023 · CITES Checklist
Where it forms
Permafrost deposits of natural origin, usually near basins, lakes or rivers
Sources G&G Summer 2023
A burial/weathering setting: promoting crystallization of iron and manganese oxides/hydroxides and iron sulfides on the surface and in cracks.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
How it forms, step by step
Late Pleistocene mammoths (Mammuthus) grow tusks.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
After the mammoths die out, tusks are buried in permafrost and other deposits.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Burial and weathering dissolve organic matter and phosphate anions, form fissures, and raise hydroxyapatite crystallinity.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Burial-time phase transformations crystallize iron and manganese oxides/hydroxides and iron sulfides on the surface and in cracks, giving the brown surface.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Link to appearance
The surface is usually brown, occasionally blue to dark blue or even black; the brown colour comes from iron and manganese oxides/hydroxides and iron sulfides on the surface and in cracks. NOTE: colour alone cannot establish species or origin.
Sources G&G Summer 2023 · CITES Checklist
Timescale
The mammoth's span falls within the Late Pleistocene, from about 350,000 down to 10,000 years before present; the species died out close to the end of the Late Glacial period, roughly between 15,000 or 14,000 and 10,000 years before present.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Supporting findings
The mammoth's existence spanned the Late Pleistocene, from roughly 350,000 to 10,000 years before present, and the animal vanished near the close of the Late Glacial period.
Evidence grade AScope: Gives mammoth's age range; not a specific tusk.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Recovery of mammoth ivory usually takes place in natural permafrost deposits situated close to rivers, lakes or basins.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes its occurrence setting; not the only source.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Recorded localities
This is an organic material; its localities are the harvest or culture areas (waters or species ranges) recorded by authoritative sources.
Asia
- Siberian tundra, RussiaBased on CITES CoP18 Prop. 13 (a Party proposal, not adopted); G&G only says permafrost deposits
Sources CITES CoP18 Prop. 13 · G&G Summer 2023
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Causes of colour and optical effects
Burial-time phase transformations promote crystallization of iron oxides, manganese oxides/hydroxides and iron sulfides on the surface and in cracks, producing the brown surface.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes the brown-surface cause; not all mammoth ivory is brown.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
How it is identified
Mammoth ivory can look like ivory or an imitation, and the eye struggles to separate them. Identification must be carried out by an accredited laboratory using instruments to test internal structure and composition; where material cannot be determined, trade guidance requires prudent disclosure and rules out an appearance-only conclusion.
Evidence grade AScope: Mammoth ivory identification requires an accredited laboratory and must not rest on appearance alone.
Sources CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Other research findings
Hydroxyapatite — the carbonate-bearing variety, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 — together with collagen makes up most of mammoth ivory, and hydroxyapatite ranks as its principal mineral constituent.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes mammoth ivory's composition; not a specific sample.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Mammoth ivory and elephant ivory can be distinguished by the angles of their Schreger lines: the angle is generally smaller in mammoth ivory (the dentine layer in this study ranged from 95° to 105°, lower than the >105° mean of Asian/African ivory).
Evidence grade AScope: Gives a distinguishing criterion; an identification reference, not a single-item verdict.
Sources G&G Summer 2023
Mammoths (Mammuthus) are extinct and are not a CITES-listed taxon; international bans on the CITES-regulated African elephant ivory (Loxodonta africana I/II) have led mammoth ivory to gradually replace it as an organic gem, and the two have different compliance status.
Evidence grade BScope: The species-first compliance boundary; the sources state the elephant-ivory ban and replacement but give no per-country rules for mammoth ivory.
Sources G&G Summer 2023 · CITES Checklist
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- Mammuthus is an extinct genus with no CITES listing record in the cited sources, so it is flagged as a non-CITES-listed (extinct) taxon; its detailed compliance rules depend on jurisdiction.
- Schreger-line angle is one identification reference; a single-item verdict still requires laboratory data, and this record gives no per-item compliance or authenticity verdict.
- No dedicated source on a specific mammoth-ivory locality or species (e.g. M. primigenius) has been found.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Mammoth Ivory (confirmed by documentation)
GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3 “Mammoth Ivory” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.2.6 “Ivory”
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments recorded for this material: Bleached, Filled / Fracture-filled, Coated, Dyed
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
"Mammoth Ivory" is a market name rather than a mineral species name; before using it, verify: Laboratory identification required before the name is used.
Evidence
- GB/T · Table A.3, row 猛犸象牙 (Mammoth Ivory)
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Mammoth Ivory (confirmed by documentation)" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- This entry's exact material identity is not fully settled.
- See “Disclosure and cautions” above
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Trade-name ruling
- Laboratory identification required before the name is used.
- Suggested listing name
- Mammoth Ivory (confirmed by documentation)
Care and wear
Normal care for every gemstone (CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.1), in brief:
- Handle it gently.
- Store pieces apart when not worn, so they cannot scratch each other.
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Use ultrasonic cleaners only with caution.
The §6.1 wording and the full list of §6.2 special-care letters cited on this page are on the general gem care page.
Care
Mammoth Ivory — care (special care): impregnated with colourless hardeners for stability: normal care.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- impregnation
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.XI, Gemstone Information Chart, Mammoth (Ivory) I, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Treatments and identification leads
Registered treatmentsThe registered treatments for Mammoth Ivory are bleaching, dyeing and filling. Bleaching and dyeing both have the status colour-treated, and filling has the status treated. Values not givenThe stability and prevalence of bleaching, dyeing and filling are all marked “—”, meaning the cited source gives no value, not “none”. Identification cluesAs identification leads, bleaching can lighten the colour or remove off-colours, with a stable result that is hard to detect; dyeing shows uneven colour distribution under magnification, mostly gathered in fractures or growth defects, the dye may fluoresce distinctively under long-wave and short-wave ultraviolet light, and colour comes off when wiped with solvents such as acetone or anhydrous ethanol; filled areas differ in lustre from the host and contain gas bubbles, their fluorescence under long-wave and short-wave ultraviolet light mostly differs from that of the host, and infrared spectroscopy can detect the characteristic absorption bands of the filler.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bleachingStatus: colour treated | — | — | Optimization | — | See identification leads |
| dyeingStatus: colour treated | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
| fillingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
| Coating | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | — |
Where each treatment acts (schematics): Bleached · Dyed · Filled / Fracture-filled
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Standard and listing namesThe Chinese formal name for Mammoth Ivory is taken from Table A.3 of GB/T 16552—2017; the suggested listing name is Mammoth Ivory (documentation confirmed). Names in four languagesNames are given in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Mammoth Ivory) and Japanese; the mineralogical name is recorded as fossil or subfossil mammoth tusk material. Institution usageOn the wording of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A, there is no wording for this name in the FTC text on file (checked), while GIA, CIBJO and Gem-A are unchecked; bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position. Japanese namesThe Japanese name shown is the entry's own; the GSJ (Japan) wording for Mammoth Ivory is not yet verified by this site.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- マンモス象牙 (not yet checked for this body — the entry's own Japanese name is shown)
- Chinese formal name
- 猛犸象牙 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3)
- Mineralogical name
- Fossil/subfossil mammoth tusk material
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 猛犸象牙
- 繁體中文
- 猛獁象牙
- English
- Mammoth Ivory
- 日本語
- マンモス象牙
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural organic and biogenic materials
- Browsing family
- Other animal-derived materials
- Identity tier
- Organic or biogenic material
- Mineral chemical class
- Not applicable
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
The “Mammoth ivory” row of GB/T 16552—2017 Annex B, Table B.1 lists for Mammoth Ivory: bleaching, which improves appearance, classed as optimization; filling, which improves or changes durability and appearance, classed by grades; coating, which improves or changes lustre, colour and other aspects of appearance, classed by grades; and dyeing, which changes colour, classed as treatment. What Table B.1 notes and how each grade is defined are explained on the Gem treatments page.
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Table B.1, row “Mammoth Ivory” (p.18):
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Method | Effect | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Bleaching | Improves appearance | Optimization |
| Filling | Improves or changes durability and appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
| Coating | Improves or changes lustre, colour and other aspects of appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
| Dyeing | Changes colour | Treatment |
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
What it is and how it's identified
Mammoth Ivory is composed mainly of hydroxyapatite and collagen, with less collagen the more fossilised it is; the inorganic part is a cryptocrystalline aggregate and the organic part amorphous. Mohs hardness is 2–3, and the cited clause adds that hardness increases with the degree of fossilisation; cleavage none; density 1.69–1.81 g/cm³. Optic character is aggregate, and birefringence not measurable on an aggregate; refractive index is 1.52–1.54, the record noting that this is the reading commonly obtained by the spot method, a typical value rather than an absolute limit. Untreated Mammoth Ivory has pleochroism not measurable on an aggregate, weak to strong bluish white or violet-blue fluorescence and greasy to waxy lustre, and softens in nitric or phosphoric acid. In the infrared spectrum, vibrations of phosphate ions and of functional groups in organic matter such as protein produce characteristic bands in the mid-infrared region.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Mammoth Ivory — composition (chemistry): chiefly hydroxyapatite plus collagen; collagen drops off steadily as petrification advances.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Structure
Mammoth Ivory — structure (overall): The inorganic component is a cryptocrystalline aggregate, the organic component amorphous.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Durability
Mammoth Ivory — Mohs hardness: 2–3
GB/T 16553—2017
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The cited clause adds that hardness increases with the degree of fossilisation.
Source & check 2026-09-20
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-20)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-20
Mammoth Ivory — cleavage: none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
stability2 sources compared
Mammoth Ivory — stability: low hardness, so it scratches easily; porous, so keep it away from coloured liquids; dissolves on contact with solvents such as nail varnish remover, so keep it away from all solvents and other strong chemicals; no ultrasonic cleaning; pieces with superficial colour or surface layers are not suitable for re-cutting or re-polishing.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code a, special-care code c, special-care code i, special-care code j, special-care code m
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Qualification
The row we cite says only "see the ivory entry above", so mammoth ivory follows the ivory row; that equivalence is stated by the source itself, not inferred here.
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Mammoth Ivory — stability: Nitric and phosphoric acids soften it
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Physical properties
Mammoth Ivory — density: 1.69–1.81 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Optical
Mammoth Ivory — optic character: aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory — refractive index: 1.52–1.54
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives this as a value commonly read by the spot (distant-vision) method. It is a common value, not an absolute limit.
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory — birefringence: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory — pleochroism: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory — fluorescence (overall): weak to strong, blue-white, violet-blue
GB/T 16553—2017
UV fluorescenceblue-whiteviolet-blueweak–strongDots are illustrative colours built from the colour names, not measured values
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory — spectrum (UV-visible): non-characteristic
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory — spectrum (infrared): Diagnostic mid-IR bands come from the phosphate ion and from vibrating functional groups (radicals) in protein and other organic matter.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-22)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Mammoth Ivory — magnification: wavy texture, engine-turned pattern, the two sets of striations converging on the tusk centre usually meet at a maximum angle under 100°, "water-mark" (a mottled surface discolouration in lighter and darker patches), weathered outer rind.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory — body colour: light yellowish white to light yellow, brown; the tusk rind is commonly brownish yellow to brown or brownish blue.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
In chapter 5 of GB/T 16553—2017, the colour entries of Vesuvianite / Idocrase, Turquoise, Dolomite and other variety clauses also name white or a whitish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Quality factors
Mammoth Ivory — quality factor (lustre): greasy to waxy; strongly weathered mammoth ivory can look earthy.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.53 / 1.75; Closest values: 1Ivory 1.535 / 1.85, 2Black Coral 1.565 / 1.71, 3Coral 1.57 / 2, 4Turtle Shell 1.545 / 1.31, 5Chrysocolla 1.516 / 2.2
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
The CIBJO laboratory protocol covers Mammoth Ivory under “Ivory” (§6.2.6): see identification on the Ivory entry; the required tests are listed on the CIBJO laboratory protocol table for Ivory.
How far testing can go
Mammoth Ivory that has undergone bleaching can be identified by the following features: lightens the colour or removes unwanted secondary colours. It is stable and not easy to detect.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- colour treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- bleaching
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (bleaching) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory that has undergone dyeing can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the colour is unevenly distributed and mostly concentrated between fissures or at growth defects; under UV light, long-wave or short-wave, the dye may show a distinctive fluorescence; wiping with acetone or absolute ethanol can remove the colour.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- colour treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (dyeing) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Mammoth Ivory that has undergone filling can be identified by the following features: Fissures are commonly filled with mammoth ivory powder mixed with resin, or with resin alone; under magnification the surface luster of the filled part differs from the host material and gas bubbles show in the filled area; under long- and short-wave UV the filled part mostly fluoresces differently from the host; infrared spectra show characteristic absorption bands of the filler.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.8 (filling) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Mammoth Ivory is registered in the clause-level definitions under the entry name Mammoth Ivory, with the corresponding clause in GB/T 16552—2017 Annex A, and the summary definition fossil or subfossil mammoth ivory material. Cross-check result: listed directly in GB/T; not found under a standalone heading of the same name in CIBJO.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Ivory | GB/T 16552-2017 Annex A | Fossil/subfossil mammoth tusk material | Listed directly by GB/T; CIBJO carries no standalone entry under the same name. |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- CITES Secretariat. Appendices I, II and III, valid from 5 March 2026.
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Other animal-derived materials | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Bleached, Filled / Fracture-filled, Coated, Dyed | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Mammoth Ivory entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.