4.1" Polished Petrified Shrinkwood Slab - Live Oak County, Texas

Polished Petrified Shrinkwood Slab - Live Oak County, Texas #236477

This is a 4.1" wide slab of petrified shrinkwood from the Fleming Formation of Live Oak County, Texas. The term "shrinkwood" refers to wood that during preservation, became fragmented from shrinkage, resulting in small cavities that become naturally "glued" back together by silica-rich fluids (chalcedony). It has been cut flat on both sides and polished to a glossy finish on one.

Under shortwave ultraviolet light, the chalcedony veins fluoresce a yellow-green color.

Comes with a display stand.

What Is Petrified Wood

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/impurities present in the water during fossilization. For example, red colors in many cases can be attributed to iron compounds, greens due to copper, and so on.

SPECIES

Unidentified

AGE

Upper Miocene - Lower Pliocene (5-10 Million Years)