fossil

Petrified wood (possible fossilized wood fragment)

Silicified fossil wood; commonly quartz or chalcedony replacing wood

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Tan, layered, and wood-like, with a rough, earthy luster and visible grain. If silicified, hardness is about 7 Mohs; the image does not show enough detail to confirm mineral replacement or original growth rings.

Identified September 28, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when buried wood is mineralized or replaced during fossilization, often by silica-rich groundwater. The age and locality cannot be determined from appearance alone.

Uses & applications

Collected as a natural-history specimen and sometimes cut or polished for decorative objects; this small fragment has little practical industrial use.

Geological facts

Petrified wood preserves the shape and sometimes fine details of ancient trees, but this fragment’s wood-like texture alone cannot establish that it is fossilized.

Field identification & locations

Look for preserved grain or growth rings and a stone-like, mineralized feel; ordinary weathered wood can look similar. Petrified wood occurs worldwide, including notable deposits in Arizona and Madagascar.