Petrified Wood

From collection Fossil collection by Lukas Wallentin

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Details

Designation

Polished Petrified Wood Slab

Description

This specimen is a polished slab of petrified wood, representing a transverse cross-section through a fossilized tree trunk. The piece exhibits well-defined dendrochronological features, specifically concentric growth rings that vary in thickness and color. The coloration is diverse, featuring a palette of creamy whites, ochre yellows, reddish-browns, and dark charcoal tones. These colors are indicative of different mineral oxides, likely iron and manganese, that replaced the organic wood fibers during the permineralization process. Several prominent radial cracks, likely formed during the drying of the original wood or the subsequent fossilization process, extend from the center towards the periphery. One side of the slab has been ground and polished to a high-gloss, reflective finish, which enhances the visibility of the internal cellular structures and mineral patterns. The reverse side and the outer perimeter (the bark area) have been left in a natural, rough state, displaying a textured, fibrous appearance. The specimen is irregularly circular in outline, following the natural growth form of the original log. The mineralization appears to be primarily silicates, given the high gloss of the polish and the way light reflects off the surface.

Scientific name

Silicified Wood