Spider Fossilized In A Drop Of Copal

This sample, polished on one side of this “large drop of resin”,
has remarkable inclusions: a spider and a “mosquito” type Diptera.

Dating: Pliocene – Holocene
According to the authors, the age of copal would range from 10-20,000 years (Schlüter et al., 1986) to 3 million years (Poinard, 1992).

Origin: Madagascar. There are a multitude of Malagasy deposits.

Ovoid dimensions of the copal: 28 x 50 mm.

Very pretty collector's item. Comes from an old private paleontological collection.
Presented on a plexiglass base and non-greasy paste.

geology: Copal, or “young amber”, is a hardened “semi-fossil” resin. The difference between real amber and copal lies in the polymerization of the resinous substance. Copal is soluble in alcohol (unlike amber). In addition, the aromatic chains are still present; that is to say, if you decided to chew copal, it would taste like resin (Whereas if you chewed amber, no taste, and a real stone would be harmful to your teeth!).