Agatized Wood Branch Arizona Prehistoric Online
Agatized Wood Branch Arizona Prehistoric Online
Agatized Wood Branch Arizona Prehistoric Online
Agatized Wood Branch Arizona Prehistoric Online
Agatized Wood Branch Arizona Prehistoric Online
Agatized Wood Branch Arizona Prehistoric Online

Agatized Wood Branch Arizona

Petrified wood, AZ

Dimensions:  4.5″ x 3″ x 2″

 

SKU: db-pwa-1

$65.00

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Petrified Wood- (from the Greek root petro meaning "rock" or "stone"; literally "wood turned into stone") is the name given

 to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is the result of a tree or tree-like plants having

 completely transitioned to stone by the process of permineralization. All the organic materials have been replaced with 

minerals (mostly a silicate, such as quartz) while retaining the original structure of the stem tissue. Unlike other types 

of fossils which are typically impressions or compressions, petrified wood is a three-dimensional representation of the 

original organic material. The petrifaction process occurs underground, when wood becomes buried under sediment or volcanic

 ash and is initially preserved due to a lack of oxygen which inhibits aerobic decomposition. Mineral-laden water flowing

 through the covering material deposits minerals in the plant's cells; as the plant's lignin and cellulose decay, a stone 

mold forms in its place. The organic matter needs to become petrified before it decomposes completely. A forest where 

such material has petrified becomes known as a petrified forest.  



Elements such as manganese, iron,and copper in the water/mud during the petrification process give petrified wood a variety

 of color ranges. Pure quartz crystals are colorless, but when contaminants are added to the process the crystals take on

 a yellow, red, or other tint.  Following is a list of contaminating elements and related color hues:carbon – black, 

cobalt – green/blue, chromium – green/blue, copper – green/blue, iron oxides – red, brown and yellow,manganese –pink/orange,

 manganese oxides – blackish/yellow, Petrified wood can preserve the original structure of the stem in all its detail, down

to the microscopic level. Structures such as tree rings and the various tissues are often observed features.  Petrified wood

 is a fossil in which the organic remains have been replaced by minerals in the slow process of being replaced with stone. 

This petrification process generally results in a quartz chalcedony mineralization. Special rare conditions must be met in

 order for the fallen stem to be transformed into fossil wood or petrified wood. In general, the fallen plants get buried 

in an environment free of oxygen (anaerobic environment), which preserves the original plant structure and general appearance.

 The other conditions include a regular access to mineral rich water in contact with the tissues, replacing the organic plant

 structure with inorganic minerals. The end result is petrified wood, a plant, with its original basic structure in place,

 replaced by stone. Exotic minerals allow the rare red and green hues that can be seen in more rare specimens.
Weight 20 oz
Dimensions 4 × 4 × 2 in
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