7.5" Petrified "Peanut Wood" Section - Australia

Petrified Peanut Wood Section - Australia #239863

This is a 7.5" polished section of petrified wood (Conifer) from Australia, known as "Peanut Wood". It is actually petrified driftwood that is full of boreholes from clam larvae of the genus Teredo, commonly know as shipworms. These boreholes were filled in by a white mineral during the fossilization process, giving this petrified wood its unique appearance. The wood itself is from Aruacaria, a type of conifer and is Lower Cretaceous in age, or approximately 113 million years old.

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

$145 $126

SPECIES

Aruacaria sp.

AGE

Lower Cretaceous (~113 Million Years)