6.6" Wide Triassic Woodworthia Petrified Log - Zimbabwe

This is a petrified log of Woodworthia, a primitive conifer. It is Triassic in age, or approximately 250 million years old and was collected from the Molteno Formation in Zimbabwe. If you didn't know better it looks like it's ready to throw on the fire.

It has been cut flat on both sides and expertly polished on one end to reveal the beautiful wood detail. The polishing was done by one of the best petrified wood polishers out there, so the quality is second to none, with none of the tool marks left behind by some polishers. The finely detailed wood rings are preserved in shades of olive, green and brown agate, pierced by rays emanating from the spine scars which cover the surface of the log.

The distinctive, gem grade petrified wood from this formation is simply beautiful, and you don't see sections this nice very often.

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
Woodworthia (Primitive Conifer)
LOCATION
Gokwe, Zimbabwe
FORMATION
Molteno Formation
SIZE
6.6 x 5 x 4.5"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#198996
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