Natural Copal Resin from Madagascar Specimen

Description

Artistry & Craftsmanship

This Copal Madagascar specimen measures 2.25 inches long and embodies the organic beauty of natural tree resin. Lightly prepared to highlight its warm amber tones and resinous clarity, the piece retains its raw authenticity, offering a tactile and visual connection to Madagascar’s forests.

Geology & Formation

Copal is a natural resin in a transitional state between fresh resin and fully fossilized amber. While amber is millions of years old, copal is hundreds to thousands of years old. Madagascan copal originates from the East African copal tree (Hymenaea verrucosa), whose resin hardens and is gradually preserved in sediments.

• Found primarily in northern Madagascar, the variety offered here is from Nosy Varika in the Vatovavy Fitovinany region, part of the former Fianarantsoa Province.

• Dating of Madagascan copal is debated:

  • Some scientists attribute it broadly to the Quaternary Period (less than 2.5 million years old).

  • Others narrow it to the Holocene Epoch (less than 11,700 years old).

• Deposits vary, as fresh surface resin can mix with older, buried resin during collection.

Interesting Facts

• The word “copal” is used both for fresh resins (notably from Mexico and Central America) and for partially fossilized resins worldwide.

• Madagascan copal often exhibits excellent clarity and a honey-amber glow, sometimes containing inclusions like air bubbles or organic fragments.

• Historically, copal has been used in ornamental carving, incense, and as a gemstone alternative to amber.

Metaphysical Qualities 

• Symbolically, copal is associated with renewal, clarity, and grounding.

• Because it derives directly from living trees, it is often viewed as a connector between the present and the ancient world, embodying both vitality and transformation.

• Collectors use it to inspire reflection, meditation, or simply as a reminder of nature’s ability to preserve beauty through time.

Dimensions & Display

• Length: 2.25 inches

• Locality: Nosy Varika, Vatovavy Fitovinany Region, Madagascar
  Each specimen is unique, with its own subtle variation in color and internal features. Display with back-lighting or near natural light to bring out its translucent qualities.

Summary

This Madagascar Copal Resin Specimen is more than a geological curiosity—it’s a bridge between the living forests of today and the natural history of the Quaternary past. At 2.25 inches, it’s an ideal size for display, study, or gifting, offering collectors a radiant piece of Madagascar’s natural heritage.