ScienceAugust 15, 2026
copal
KOH-puhl
Definition
A form of young, hardened tree resin that is not yet fully fossilized and is often mistakenly sold as genuine, ancient amber.
Etymology
Derived from the Nahuatl word 'copalli,' which refers to incense. The term entered English via Spanish to describe various fragrant resins gathered from trees.
In the news
The article uses copal to explain how forgers create fake amber, noting that this modern resin can be melted down and used to trap insects to mimic million-year-old specimens.
How To Fake A Fossil: We Asked Palaeontologists How They'd Do It, And Yes, They Told Us
Read the full article ↗IFLScience