Petrified Wood

Interesting colors and intricate patterns abound on this lovely piece of Petrified Wood, from Parker, Colorado. Dated at approx. 55 million years old, this Petrified Wood is considered a variety of “Shrink wood”. This is a result of the natural fracturing and shrinking of the original wood, allowing the fractures to infill with minerals such as silica (quartz) and agate during the permineralization process, creating a beautiful mosaic pattern. This specimen features a cut and polished front, with the back and sides left in their raw and natural state. A flat-cut base allows this specimen to self-stand perfectly.

Petrified wood forms when a tree falls and is rapidly buried by sediment such as volcanic ash or river sediments. This creates a reduced oxygen environment (anaerobic) which halts the usual decay process. Minerals carried through the flow of water and absorbed into the tree slowly began to replace the organic material and crystallize. Over hundreds and thousands of years this crystallization took place hardening into stone. Composed mostly of silica (quartz), small concentrations of other elements including iron, carbon and manganese created the rich color variations seen here.