fossil

Fossilized wood, likely silicified petrified wood

Silicified wood (fossil wood; commonly quartz/chalcedony replacing organic tissue)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness typically 6.5–7 Mohs; brown, reddish, black, and gray tones with a dull to waxy or locally glassy luster. Original wood grain and cellular texture may remain, while fractures are irregular and shell-like; exact identification requires microscopy or testing.

Identified September 4, 2026More fossil →

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At a glance

Common name: Fossilized wood, likely silicified petrified wood
Scientific name: Silicified wood (fossil wood; commonly quartz/chalcedony replacing organic tissue)
Category: fossil
Identified: September 4, 2026
Method: Standard

AI Estimated Value

About $10–$50 for common rough pieces; $50–$300+ for large, well-preserved, attractive specimens, with exceptional polished examples worth more.

Not an official valuation

AI estimate for general interest only — not an appraisal. Actual value depends on condition, provenance, and market demand. Verify with a professional before buying, selling, or insuring.

This identification was generated by AI and may contain errors. Verify important details before relying on them — and never use an AI result to judge whether a specimen is safe to handle. Read the full disclaimer

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Buried wood was preserved as groundwater carrying silica replaced or filled its tissues, often during volcanic or sedimentary burial. Ages range from thousands to hundreds of millions of years, depending on the deposit.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative stone, cabochon material, paperweight, and collector specimen; large pieces may be polished for display. It has little industrial value compared with ordinary silica-rich rock.

Geological facts

The dark areas may represent carbonized wood or iron/manganese staining, while tan regions may be silica-rich replacement or weathered matrix. A visible wood-grain pattern strongly supports petrified wood, but the photograph alone cannot establish species or locality.

Field identification & locations

Common in volcanic ash beds and ancient floodplain deposits, including Arizona, Indonesia, Madagascar, and Australia. Look for growth rings, bark texture, radial cell patterns, silica hardness, and lack of modern organic fibers; avoid destructive testing on valuable specimens.