PETRIFIED WOOD

Specifications

Mineral Class: Fossil
Crystal System: Complex
Hardness: 8
Luster: Vitreous to Greasy
Diaphaneity: Translucent to Opaque
Colors: Brown, Black, Gray, White, Red, Yellow, Orange
Symbolizes: Transformation
Source: Worldwide

Petrified Wood gets its name from the Latin root, “rock” or “stone” literally meaning wood turned to stone. It is a specific type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is a result of a tree or tree-like plants having completely transitioned to stone. All the organic materials have been replaced with minerals, mostly silicate like quartz. Unlike other fossils, petrified wood is a three-dimensional representation of the original organic material. The fossilization process begins when the wood becomes buried under sediment or volcanic ash and initially preserved due to a lack of oxygen which inhibits aerobic decomposition. Mineral-laden water flowing through the covering material deposits minerals in the plants cells.