fossil
Petrified Wood
Silicified Wood (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, brown, reddish-brown with visible wood grain; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Gray, brown, reddish-brown with visible wood grain
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, brown, reddish-brown with visible wood grain; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture
Formation & geological history
Formed through permineralization when plant material is buried in sediment with silica-rich water flowing through, replacing organic structures with quartz over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used for decorative lapidary work, gemstones, polished displays, bookends, and educational fossil collections.
Geological facts
Petrified wood retains the original cellular structure of the tree, allowing scientists to identify species that lived tens to hundreds of millions of years ago.
Field identification & locations
Identified by distinctive wood grain textures combined with mineral hardness. Common in petrified forests, riverbeds, and ancient sedimentary basins worldwide.
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