fossil

Petrified Palm Wood

Palmoxylon

Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs). Color: Tan, brown, or black with characteristic rod-like vascular bundle patterns appearing as dots or dashes. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal structure: Cryptocrystalline (silica replacement).

Hardness: 6
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 21, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed during the Cenozoic era, primarily Eocene to Miocene epochs. It occurs when ancient palm trees were buried by sediment or volcanic ash, and groundwater rich in dissolved silica replaced the organic plant tissue over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in lapidary arts for making cabochons, bookends, and decorative carvings. It is the state stone of Texas and the state fossil of Louisiana.

Geological facts

Unlike most petrified wood which shows growth rings, palm wood shows a pattern of vascular bundles (the dots seen on the surface). Palmoxylon is an extinct genus of palm trees.

Field identification & locations

Identify by looking for 'skin' patterns or dots rather than rings on the end grain. Commonly found in the Gulf Coast region of the USA, particularly Texas and Louisiana, as well as Indonesia.