Rock Identifier
Petrified Wood (Silicified Wood / Fossilized Xylem) — fossil
fossil

Petrified Wood

Silicified Wood / Fossilized Xylem

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, variable colors including brown, red, and yellow, vitreous to waxy luster, and cryptocrystalline quartz structure.

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, variable colors including brown, red, and yellow, vitreous to waxy luster, and cryptocrystalline quartz structure.

Formation & geological history

Formed via permineralization where organic wood material is gradually replaced by silica-rich groundwater over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in lapidary arts for ornamental carvings, polished display slabs, and jewelry, as well as valued by fossil collectors.

Geological facts

The cellular structure of the original tree is often perfectly preserved, allowing scientists to identify ancient plant species millions of years old.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive wood grain patterns combined with high hardness and conchoidal fracture typical of quartz; found worldwide.

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