fossil

Tumbled petrified wood

Silicified wood; primarily microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Brown, amber, and gray banding with a polished/waxy luster; hardness about 6.5–7 Mohs, no obvious cleavage, and conchoidal fracture. The visible elongated grain-like patterns are consistent with replaced wood structure, though the photograph is not definitive.

Identified September 9, 2026More fossil →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Buried wood was gradually replaced by silica-rich groundwater, preserving cellular and sometimes growth-ring textures. It can range from Paleozoic to Cenozoic in age, commonly tens of millions of years old.

Uses & applications

Used as a lapidary material for cabochons, carvings, bookends, and polished specimens; it is generally decorative rather than construction-grade.

Geological facts

Silicification may preserve microscopic cellular detail while replacing organic matter almost completely. Iron and manganese impurities commonly create red, brown, yellow, or black colors.

Field identification & locations

Look for petrified grain, rings, cellular texture, varied silica colors, and quartz-like hardness; it should not be soft or fibrous like modern wood. Common sources include Arizona, Utah, Washington, Indonesia, and Madagascar.