Rock Identifier
Petrified Wood (Silicified Wood) — fossil
fossil

Petrified Wood

Silicified Wood

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, gray, or black, dull to waxy luster, massive or cryptocrystalline structure depending on mineralization.

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Physical properties

Hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, gray, or black, dull to waxy luster, massive or cryptocrystalline structure depending on mineralization.

Formation & geological history

Forms when plant material is buried by sediment and protected from decay; groundwater rich in dissolved solids flows through the sediment, replacing the original plant material with silica, calcite, pyrite, or another inorganic material such as opal.

Uses & applications

Used in lapidary work, jewelry, ornamental carvings, and as collectible specimens.

Geological facts

Petrified wood can preserve the original cellular structure of the wood down to the microscopic level.

Field identification & locations

Identify by wood-like texture and appearance but with the weight and hardness of stone. Commonly found worldwide in sedimentary deposits.

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