Damar Dammar Gum Resin Rock Powder From Sumatera Indonesia

Damar Batu (literally "Stone Damar") is a fossilized or semi-fossilized natural resin. Unlike the "Cat's Eye" variety, which is tapped from living trees, Damar Batu is typically collected from the ground or excavated from the earth near the roots of ancient Dipterocarpaceae trees.

Physical Characteristics

• Appearance: It is characterized by its stone-like, opaque, and multi-colored appearance. Colors range from dark brown and black to honey-gold and grey.
• Texture: It is much harder and denser than "tapped" damar. The surface is often dusty or covered in earth, requiring cleaning and sorting after harvest.
• Aroma: When broken or burned, it emits a strong, woody, and slightly musky fragrance, less sweet than the premium crystalline varieties.

Classification and Grading

Damar Batu is generally sorted into categories based on size and purity for the export market:

1. Damar Batu Super: Large, solid chunks with minimal impurities. These have the highest resin content.
2. Damar Batu Medium: Mid-sized pieces, often used for industrial melting.
3. Damar Batu Ordinary (Assorted): A mix of smaller pieces and varied colors.
4. Damar Batu Dust/Powder: The byproduct of sorting, used primarily in the production of low-end incense or as a filler in industrial mixtures.

Primary Industrial Uses

Because of its hardness and lower price point compared to Mata Kucing, Riau's Damar Batu is a workhorse in several industries:

• Marine & Shipbuilding: It is the primary ingredient in traditional Indonesian boat caulking. Mixed with lime and oils, it creates a rock-hard, waterproof seal for wooden vessels navigating Riau’s river systems.
• Varnishes and Polishes: When dissolved in spirits or turpentine, it produces a durable, dark-tinted varnish used for furniture, wooden structures, and floor polishes.
• Inks and Adhesives: It serves as a binder in the manufacturing of printing inks, road-marking paints, and heavy-duty industrial adhesives.
• Incense & Fuel: In local Riau communities, lower grades are used as a long-burning fuel source or as a base for aromatic incense coils.