fossil

Petrified Wood (Black / Carbonized)

Silicon Dioxide (Quartz/Chalcedony replacing Organic Matter)

Hardness around 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; jet-black to dark grey color with distinct fibrous wood grain patterns; vitreous to dull luster; conchoidal to uneven fracture; specific gravity approximately 2.6.

Identified July 25, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when ancient plant material was rapidly buried under sediment or volcanic ash, excluding oxygen and preventing decay. Over millions of years, mineral-rich groundwater permineralized or replaced the organic wood tissue, often preserving the cellular structures.

Uses & applications

Used in lapidary arts, jewelry making, decorative stone carvings, display specimens for mineral collectors, and educational paleontology tools.

Geological facts

Black petrified wood often derives its color from the presence of carbonized organic material or manganese oxide inclusions. Some specimens retain cellular details so precise that ancient tree species can be identified under a microscope.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for unmistakable wood grain, tree ring patterns, or fibrous bark-like textures combined with the hardness and density of stone. Found globally in sedimentary deposits and fossiliferous rock beds, such as those in the western United States, Madagascar, and Indonesia.

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