Spinifex resin facts for kids
Spinifex resin is a natural, sticky gum found on some types of spinifex grasses. These grasses grow in Australia. For a very long time, Aboriginal Australians used this sticky resin as a strong glue when making tools. Many spinifex plants have so much resin that it can even drip down their stems and leaves on hot days. You might also see big lumps of resin left at the bottom of grass clumps after a bushfire.
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How Spinifex Gum is Made
To make the gum, people would first hit the spinifex grass. This process, called threshing, helps the small, sticky resin pieces fall off the plant. These tiny pieces are then heated. As they get warm, they melt and stick together, forming a soft, black tar. While it's still warm, this tar can be shaped. Once it cools down, it becomes a very strong glue.
This spinifex gum was often preferred over other natural glues, like the one from Xanthorrhoea plants. One reason is that spinifex resin can be heated and reshaped many times without breaking or becoming brittle. If the gum gets hard, it can be made soft again using fire and a little bit of water.
What Spinifex Resin Was Used For
Aboriginal cultures used spinifex resin in many ways. Here are some of the main uses:
As a Strong Glue
Spinifex resin was a very important glue for making hunting and working tools.
- Spears: The resin was often used to attach the sharp head of a spear to its long wooden shaft. A hunter would always carry a spear and usually a piece of resin. This way, they could fix their spear or other tools if they broke.
- Axes: Traditional Aboriginal axes also used spinifex resin to hold the stone blade firmly to the handle.
- Woomeras: A woomera is a tool used to throw spears further and with more power. A lump of spinifex resin was often attached to the base of the woomera's handle for a better grip.
- Paint: The resin was also mixed with ochre (natural earth pigments) to create paint. The resin helped the paint stick to surfaces.
Making Things Waterproof
Spinifex resin was used to make wooden containers waterproof. People would use the resin to seal any gaps or cracks in wooden bowls or dishes, so they could hold water without leaking.
Fixing Tools and Containers
If a wooden tool or container had a hole or a crack, spinifex resin could be used to repair it. It would fill the gap and make the item usable again.
Creating Objects
People also shaped spinifex resin into different objects. These could include beads, small figures, containers, and other useful or decorative items.
Modern Uses
Even today, spinifex resin can be useful. Following the spirit of "Bush Mechanics" (people who fix things using clever, simple methods), the resin can be melted down to repair items like jerry cans, which are used to carry water and fuel.
