Rock Identifier
Petrified Wood (Silicified wood (SiO2)) — fossil
fossil

Petrified Wood

Silicified wood (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, dark brown to black color, vitreous to waxy luster, amorphous crystal structure, lacks cleavage, specific gravity ranges from 2.5 to 2.8.

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, dark brown to black color, vitreous to waxy luster, amorphous crystal structure, lacks cleavage, specific gravity ranges from 2.5 to 2.8.

Formation & geological history

Formed through permineralization, where organic plant material is buried in sediment and replaced by silicate minerals over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used for ornamental carvings, decorative display pieces, lapidary arts, and as collector specimens.

Geological facts

The organic wood structure is completely replaced by quartz while preserving microscopic cellular details of the original tree.

Field identification & locations

Identify by visible wood grain patterns coupled with extreme hardness and conchoidal fracture typical of quartz.

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