sedimentary
Petrified Wood
Silicified Wood (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, varied brown and grey colors, vitreous to dull luster, microcrystalline quartz structure with preserved cellular grain.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, varied brown and grey colors, vitreous to dull luster, microcrystalline quartz structure with preserved cellular grain.
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization when buried organic wood is slowly replaced by silica-rich groundwater over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in ornamental carvings, jewelry, lapidary art, and sought after by fossil and mineral collectors worldwide.
Geological facts
Famous deposits include Arizona's Petrified Forest, where entire Triassic forests were preserved in volcanic ash.
Field identification & locations
Identify by visible wood grain patterns combined with a glass-like hardness that scratches steel.
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