Copal facts for kids

Copal from Madagascar with spiders, termites, ants, elateridae, hymenoptera, cockroach and a flower

A sample of copal containing a few termites

Copal is a special kind of tree resin. It comes from trees like the copal tree, Protium copal. Long ago, people in Mesoamerica (like the Aztecs and Mayas) used it as a smoky incense in their ceremonies.

Think of copal as being in the middle stage between sticky tree sap and hard amber. It's harder than fresh sap but not as hard as ancient amber. Sometimes, copal that has started to turn into a mineral is called copaline.

You can find copal in different forms. The yellow kind looks a bit like amber and is usually less expensive. There's also a white copal, which is milky and sticky. This one is often more expensive.

Etymology

The word "copal" comes from the Nahuatl language. This was the language spoken by the Aztec people. In Nahuatl, the word copalli means "incense."

History and Uses

Copal that is found underground, often from very old trees, is called subfossil copal. It's found in places like New Zealand (called kauri gum), Japan, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Madagascar.

This type of copal often has cool things trapped inside, like insects or plant pieces. Because of this, it's sometimes sold as "young amber." When it's treated in a special way, it can be used to make jewelry. You can usually tell copal apart from very old amber because copal is lighter in color. Also, if you put a drop of acetone on it, copal will feel sticky.

Copal resin from trees in East Africa is also used as incense. People found a lot of subfossil copal there, sometimes a few feet below the ground. This older copal is harder and was used to make strong varnishes.

In the 1700s, people in Europe discovered that copal was great for making varnish for wood. It became very popular for finishing furniture and carriages. Later, in the 1800s, it was used for train carriages too, which made its demand grow a lot.

Even today, many indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America still use copal as an incense. They use it in special ceremonies, like sweat lodge rituals and sacred mushroom ceremonies.

See also

In Spanish: Copal para niños