fossil

Polished petrified wood

Silicified wood, chiefly microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; tan, brown, amber, cream, and reddish bands with waxy to glossy luster. It preserves wood grain and commonly has no visible cleavage; density is roughly 2.3–2.7 g/cm³.

Identified September 21, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs; tan, brown, amber, cream, and reddish bands with waxy to glossy luster. It preserves wood grain and commonly has no visible cleavage; density is roughly 2.3–2.7 g/cm³.

Formation & geological history

A fossil formed when buried wood was gradually replaced by silica-bearing groundwater, preserving cellular structure. Most collectible material is Cenozoic or Mesozoic in age, though ages vary by locality.

Uses & applications

Used as ornamental stone, bookends, carvings, cabochons, and lapidary specimens; polished pieces are primarily decorative and collectible.

Geological facts

The specimen’s flowing grain-like bands and silica-rich glossy surface strongly indicate silicified wood rather than ordinary jasper. Color variations often reflect iron, manganese, or other trace impurities.

Field identification & locations

Commonly found in volcanic ash beds and sedimentary deposits, especially in Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Indonesia, and Madagascar. Identify it by preserved wood grain, quartz-like hardness, and inability to scratch with a steel knife; a gemological test can confirm silica.