sedimentary
Petrified Wood
Silicified Wood (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors vary widely including brown, red, yellow, and grey depending on mineral impurities, luster is vitreous to waxy, cryptocrystalline structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors vary widely including brown, red, yellow, and grey depending on mineral impurities, luster is vitreous to waxy, cryptocrystalline structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed when buried plant material is slowly replaced by minerals, typically quartz or chalcedony, in an anoxic environment over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used for decorative objects, lapidary arts, jewelry, and as collector specimens.
Geological facts
Petrified wood can preserve the cellular structure of ancient trees dating back hundreds of millions of years, sometimes preserving tree rings and bark texture.
Field identification & locations
Found worldwide in sedimentary deposits associated with ancient river systems and volcanic ash beds; identified by maintaining the external shape of wood while having the weight and hardness of stone.
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