3.4" Rare Petrified "Snakewood" (Mennegoxylon) Slice - Texas

This is a gorgeous, 3.4" wide slice of petrified snakewood (Mennegoxylon jonesii) from the Eocene age Yegua Formation of Brazos County, Texas. This slice is polished to a glossy finish one side and displays wonderful preservation of the snakeskin-like wood grain detail.

Petrified wood is the name given to wood that has been turned into stone (fossilized) through the process of permineralization. In this process, all of the organic matter becomes replaced by minerals, while much of the original structure, such as tree rings, is retained. For this to happen, the wood needs to be buried in an environment low in oxygen to prevent decomposition and with flowing, mineral-laden water, so minerals may replace structures. The coloration is caused by various minerals that present in that water during fossilization. For example, red colors are due to iron compounds, greens due to copper, and so on.

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DETAILS
SPECIES
Mennegoxylon jonesii (Snake Wood)
AGE
LOCATION
Brazos County, Texas
FORMATION
Yegua Formation
SIZE
3.4 x 1.3", .3" thick
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#163731
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