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The best-known and most-studied petrified wood specimens are those that are mineralized with polymorphs of silica: opal-A, opal-C, chalcedony, and quartz. Less familiar are fossil woods preserved with non-silica minerals.
We’ve found nearly 40 minerals in petrified wood, many containing iron, manganese and chromium, which provide its spectacular red, orange and blue colors. oscopic level. Eventually, erosion exposes the fossilized logs—some dating back over 300 million years for us.
1 mar 2024 · The wood structures of the world's longest tree fossil underwent replacement and permineralization primarily by quartz, chalcedony, and opal-A. Fe compounds, feldspar, zeolite, and clay minerals are commonly found, suggesting ongoing degradation of the petrified tree.
Fossil tree trunk in Arizona’s Petrified Forest. Petrified wood is found in numerous locations around the world and represents the remains of ancient forests.
This report provides a broad overview of woods fossilized with these minerals, describing specimens from world-wide locations comprising a diverse variety of mineral assemblages. Data from previously-undescribed fossil woods are also presented.
Permineralized fossils form when solutions rich in minerals permeate porous tissue, such as bone or wood. Minerals precipitate out of solution and fill the pores and empty spaces.
Petrified fossils are formed when the original organic material of a once-living organism is slowly replaced by minerals, effectively turning to stone. This occurs over an extended period of time through a process known as petrification or permineralization.
