fossil

Fossilized Wood / Petrified Wood

Petrified Wood (Silicified Flora)

Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Dark brown, tan, grey, and earthy tones with visible organic grain. Luster: Dull to earthy when raw, waxy or vitreous when polished. Structure: Microcrystalline quartz replacing organic plant structures.

Hardness: 6
Luster: Dull to earthy when raw, waxy or vitreous when polished

Identified July 26, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization when woody plant matter is rapidly buried under sediment or volcanic ash in anoxic environments. Dissolved silica-rich groundwater gradually precipitates quartz crystals into the plant cells, preserving the original wood structure over millions of years (typically Paleozoic to Cenozoic eras).

Uses & applications

Used in lapidary arts, decorative displays, landscaping, jewelry (cabochons), and educational fossil collection.

Geological facts

Petrified wood can retain detailed anatomical structure of the original tree down to individual cell walls, growth rings, and bark patterns.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for distinct bark, ring, or fiber-like patterns combined with high density and hardness typical of quartz minerals. Commonly found in sedimentary basins and riverbeds worldwide.

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