Petrified trees - what are they? Petrified trees discovered in Transbaikalia - Interesting things from the Internet - Catalog of articles - Biokan.

These are the trunks and branches of prehistoric trees, all organic substances in which over millions of years were gradually replaced by quartz, opal, chalcedony and other minerals. Sometimes, during the process of petrification, ancient wood retained its pattern and structural elements so well that even growth rings can be seen in it.

Looking at these fossils, preserving the memory of prehistoric flora and fauna, one can imagine that these trees were once alive, like the birches or maples rustling with leaves outside our window. Meanwhile, dinosaurs once roamed between these now petrified trees: the age of some specimens petrified wood is more than 250 million years old.

The climate on our planet is constantly changing. Thus, with the onset of deserts, ancient relict forests gradually fell asleep quartz sand. It did not allow oxygen to pass through and thereby prevented the natural process of decay of cellulose and other organic substances. Wood was gradually replaced by silica, preserving the shape and texture of trunks and branches in the smallest detail.

Much less common is marbled wood, the organic matter of which is replaced by calcite, siderite or dolomite. Sometimes replacement minerals are: pyrite, jet, gypsum, barite and volkonskoite. The color of petrified wood can be yellow, gray, pink, red-brown, and sometimes even blue and purple. It is opaque, but may show through at the edges.

Often, wood that has turned into stone over time is also called xylopal (Greek “xilos” - tree; Sanskrit “fell” - precious stone). Other synonymous names: dendrolite, arboreal, fossil wood, cardiolite, arboreal stone, arboreal, litoxylite.

Petrified wood is found throughout the world in sedimentary and volcanic deposits of the Permian and Carboniferous period. Some prehistoric forests occupied a gigantic area and consisted of trees of gigantic size.

The most famous deposit is the "Stone Forest", located in Arizona (USA). Among the huge variety of fossils here are huge trunks of araucaria. These giant trees grew up to ninety meters in height. Scientists believe that they were brought here by water, and then gradually became covered with dense silt, which helped preserve the structure of the trees during the process of their mineralization.

In 1962, this, one of the most unique places on the planet, was declared a national park. Thus, the government protected it from complete plunder by numerous tourists. Now visitors are strictly forbidden to take out even a tiny particle of petrified wood from here.
In Patagonia, perfectly preserved fossilized pine cones are often found. Their popularity among collectors is so great that their collection, sale and export are prohibited by law by the Argentine government. Other large deposits of petrified wood are located in Canada (Alberta), Egypt and many other countries.

In Russia, this is the Novgorod region, where the replacement mineral is pyrite. IN Vologda region there is petrified wood with crystals. There are deposits in Perm region, in the coal basins of the Urals, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory (Podkamennaya Tunguska), in Yakutia, the Amur Region, Kamchatka and other Far Eastern regions.

For mineralogists, petrified wood is of interest as a pseudomorph of chalcedony along tree trunks. Paleontologists are interested not only in the species of trees that lived in ancient times. Knots, annual rings, bark, as well as canals and insect nests preserved in trunks are a source of invaluable information for scientists.

Petrified wood jewelry was worn back in the Ancient Rome and ancient states of Mesopotamia. Polished petrified wood looks very impressive, so it is often used not only as decorative and ornamental material, but also as hemisphere-cut (cabochon) inserts into jewelry. Items such as ashtrays, jewelry boxes or paperweights with clearly visible growth rings look great. Large trunks are used to make cuts for tabletops.

Preservation of the texture and details of the wood structure, a variety of colors and good polishability make petrified wood sought-after jewelry raw materials. What also makes xylopal products attractive is the unique originality of its shapes and, of course, its very respectable age, estimated at many millions of years.

In some ancient cultures, a tree was considered as one of the symbols of the universe. To this day, many people consider his fossilized pieces to be carriers of this ancient symbolism. It is believed that petrified wood amulets help a person to resist stress, and thereby prolong his life. Probably this belief is facilitated by the image of a strong tree with powerful roots in the earth, capable of withstanding any elements and even time itself.

Scientists believe that most layers of sediment on the Earth's surface were deposited slowly over millions of years. Most of these layers contain fossilized remains of plants and animals. But there are problematic facts. There are many examples on Earth where fossils pass vertically through numerous layers of sedimentary rocks - hence their name "polystrate fossils" (from poly - many, strata - layers).

For example, in the Joggins coalfield (Nova Scotia, Canada), you can find many vertical trees scattered in layers with a total thickness of 750 meters. These petrified trees can be easily seen.
Beautifully preserved, they cut through layers believed to have been deposited over millions of years. The fact is that the trees had to be buried faster than they would rot. In other words, there is NO WAY these layers could have been deposited slowly over millions of years.

The trees would have decayed long before this and thus would not have petrified. Derek Adger, emeritus professor of geology at University College, Swansea, trained in the spirit of strict Lyellian uniformitarianism, describes these fossils as follows: “The total thickness of the British Carboniferous strata is approximately 1000 m, and assuming that they were deposited over a period of 10 million years, and assuming a constant rate of formation of sedimentary rocks, then the burial of a tree 10 m high took place over 100,000 years, which is really just ridiculous.”

How long does it take for layers of sedimentary rock to form? Check out this ten-meter-tall petrified tree, one of hundreds discovered in the coal mines of Cookeville, Tennessee, USA. This tree starts in one layer of coal, goes up through numerous layers, and finally ends in another layer of coal. Think about this: what would happen to top part tree over the thousands of years required (according to evolution) to form the sedimentary layers and strata of the angle? Obviously, the formation of sedimentary layers and coal seams had to be catastrophic (rapid) in order to bury the tree in vertical position before it rots and falls. Such "standing trees" are found in numerous places on earth and on different levels. Despite the evidence, long periods of time (necessary for evolution) are squeezed between the layers, for which there is no evidence.

“On the other hand, if a tree 10 m high was buried for 10 years, this would mean that 1,000 km thick layers would be deposited in a million years, or 10,000 km in 10 million years. This is also ridiculous and we have no choice but to conclude that the deposition of sedimentary rocks at times occurred very quickly, and there were times when the process of deposition was interrupted and stopped for some time, despite the fact that the strata appear continuous and homogeneous.

Here are some more examples of what should not exist in the world modern science(petrified tree trunks):

Geopark in Greece: Petrified Forest of Lesbos

On the banks of the Yellowstone River

Hungarian scientists reported an interesting discovery: remains of small forest, dating back 8 million years. According to Alfred Dulai, a geologist at the Hungarian Natural History Museum (Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum), what is unusual is that parts of most of the trees were preserved in an upright position. The find is a kind of stump, 4 to 6 meters high and 1.5 meters wide. up to 3 meters. They are parts of swamp cypresses, preserved from ancient times in open deposits of brown coal.

Age as usual - estimated by eye, otherwise how to explain this fact. The older you are, the more believable...

There are a lot of stone chocks like this in Arizona. They were not cut by ancient woodcutters, no. The trunk is fragile - it split itself:

Now explain why this is ancient tree not rotten, but petrified? Apparently it lay under a layer of sand and silt without access to oxygen.

Also, fossilized remains of trees are found in Khakassia and on Taimyr .

An unusual “stone forest” was found in the Uchkuduk region of the Dzharakuduk tract (Mingbulak Basin).

Ancient trees, under the influence of atmospheric conditions, mineralized and turned into real stones. Until now, such a phenomenon has occurred only in two places in the world - in Bulgaria and Chile. This is a truly unique natural monument.
In the Navoi region, scientists have discovered three such sites with petrified trunks. According to them, the deposits may be more than 9 million years old. When studying the stones, imprints of ancient teeth were found on them. sea ​​creatures. Following the analysis, scientists came to the conclusion that the territory of Kyzylkum many thousands of years ago was the bottom of the ocean. The tracks belong to stingrays, sharks, crocodiles, and pre-existing dinosaurs.

On an area of ​​30 square kilometers, among stone piles, cuts, and coastal sea formations, stone structures resembling the sound pipes of a Gothic organ are visible. These are petrified trunks of an ancient forest.

As you can see, the stone forest is not somewhere below, in the valley, but on the hillside

Views around

The tree trunks did not rot, but turned to stone. This means that the mineralization process took place in the absence of oxygen. As scientists write - under water. But how could the ancient forest sink into the waters of the sea?

Official opinion: many millions of years ago, “antediluvian forests” grew along the shores of warm sea bays and lakes…. Later they were covered with layers of sea and river sediments. The wood became mineralized and petrified, but retained its original appearance and structure. In the oldest layers of soil exposed in the steep slopes of gorges near Dzharakuduk, dinosaur bones are also found.”

But no ancient soils are visible here.

There were once dense thickets

Upon careful examination, remains of wood were found in the internal cavity of the tubular body, carbon analysis of which confirmed its ancient age. This circumstance made it possible to assume that the plant trunks secreted some kind of “sticky”, sticky liquid, onto which grains of sand actively stuck, creating the shape of “pseudo-trunks”.

When these formations are split open, leaf imprints are found inside with a fairly high degree of preservation, which confirms the biogenic origin of the “stone” forest. But this is not the only version in an endless series of arguments and hypotheses.

Sections of the soil deposits of the tract are literally stuffed with the remains of organisms, among which fragments of the skeletons of vertebrates and reptiles predominate. The collection of finds was supplemented by many amphibian teeth found here. Complex fossil layers consist of layers of clay, freshwater and marine sediments, sandstones and other rocks. All this indicates that the territory of the Kyzylkum was once part of the world ocean.

Fossils up close

Hollow wood structure of ancient trees

Many fossil remains are found in clay soil

Someone tried to collect something from them

Sources
[ Click to read ]

Gratitude izofatov for pointing me to this material

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In the 59th quarter of the Naleykinsky forestry, which is northwest of the village of Bayevka, Kuzovatovsky district (Simbirsk-Ulyanovsk), pieces of fossil wood have been preserved in a pine-birch forest. This is part of the trunk of a plant that existed in this place 30 million years ago, it is often called the “Bay tree”.

Remains of petrified wood.
With. Baevka. 05/10/2008.

The Baev tree was first discovered in 1886 by Alexei Pavlov, a famous geologist, professor at Moscow University, founder of the Moscow scientific school. According to Pavlov, there were nine large units. Near them on the ground one could find small splinters - pieces of wood. As befits slivers, they had growth rings, which indicated the growth of the trunk in width.

Only on my palm are slivers of stone, and they belonged to petrified wood, as the locals call it, “stone pine.” Such wood chips have clearly visible growth rings, which creates a striking resemblance to modern wood.

During the expedition to the Baevsky tree, we counted eight fragments of the former trunk. Four of them rose quite clearly above the surface of the earth, others were completely covered with earth and could only be probed with a shovel. All pieces of the trunk were, to one degree or another, covered with fallen leaves, covered with mosses, lichens, and even overgrown with herbs.
The largest fragment of the trunk was quite impressive in size: it reached 160 centimeters in diameter. On 10 centimeters of this trunk, we counted 30 growth rings; the width of the growth ring was 3 millimeters, which means that during its life the tree stood on the ground for about 250 years. The total length of the surviving parts of the trunk was 20 meters. According to calculations, the weight of all fossils is substantial - more than 40 tons. This is a real natural miracle.

The correct botanical name for the ancient coniferous tree is “cypress.” In 1994, it was included in the list of paleobotanical monuments of all-Russian significance.
The Baevsky tree is an authentic document about the ancient state of vegetation of the Volga Upland at the beginning of Tertiary time - about 30 million years ago. This is evidence of the warm subtropical climatic conditions of that time in our region. Scientists, including Professor Blagoveshchensky, believe that this cypress grew on one of the islands of the archipelago in the warm sea of ​​that time. The fall of the ancient giant, and its height reached about 50-60 meters, probably an old tree at that time, occurred during strong storm, which was facilitated by the superficial root system. fallen tree was brought in by marine sediments, in particular sands, in the thickness of which its mineralization - petrification - occurred. Without access to oxygen, the wood became saturated with mineralized waters, as a result of which the organic molecules of the cell membranes were replaced by silica molecules, and the wood turned into stone.

In 1968, with the help of students from the Faculty of Geography of the Pedagogical Institute, the ancient cypress tree was fenced off as a natural monument, and a sign was erected indicating the need for its protection. Unfortunately, during the last expedition we did not see it, and the fence was lost in many places and requires repair.
See the Baevsky cypress in spring forest local resident Vladimir Polubesov helped, without whose help our meeting would hardly have taken place. In turn, along the way, I considered other evidence of the antiquity of this pine-birch forest, which Professor Blagoveshchensky spoke about at one time. These are club mosses, lingonberries, blueberries and different kinds family of wintergreens. Not every forest can boast such a wealth of such plants.
The need for effective protection of the bay tree from destruction has long been ripe, since the petrified trunk, being on the surface, like any exposed stone, is subject to weathering and destruction. It was repeatedly proposed that the tree of Baev be moved to one of the museums and placed in a glass gallery. But time is running, but no one takes practical action.

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Prikamye. Location near the village. Sentyak. The structure of the wood has been preserved.

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But this furniture is made from stone wood:

Andrew Snelling

"Instantly Petrified Wood"- that was the title of the article in the magazine Popular Science, in the October 1992 issue. The same was demonstrated by a study conducted at the High Performance Ceramics Laboratory of the University of Washington in Seattle (USA).

The researchers created a wood-ceramic composite that was 20 to 120 percent harder than regular wood but still looked like wood. The process of creating this mixture is surprisingly simple: the wood is impregnated with a solution containing a mixture of silicon and aluminum. The solution fills the pores in the wood, after which it is placed in an oven at a temperature of 44°C. According to the head of the research laboratory, Daniel Dobbs, during such experiments the wood is impregnated with a solution to a depth of approximately 5 mm. Moreover, deeper penetration into wood under pressure and more high temperature, produced a rock-hard composition of wood and ceramics that was very similar to petrified wood.

The original "recipe" for petrification

However, the first discovery of the "recipe" for petrifying wood belongs to Hamilton Hicks of Greenwich, Connecticut (USA), who received US Patent No. 4,612,050 on September 16, 1986. According to Hicks, his chemical "cocktail" of sodium silicate (known as " liquid glass"), natural spring or volcanic mineral water containing a high percentage of calcium, magnesium, manganese and other metal salts, and citric or malic acid can quickly turn wood into stone. But if you want to use this "recipe", you need to know what is used for artificial petrification special technology to mix these components in the correct proportions in order to obtain the “initial” solidified state.

Hicks wrote:

“When the solution is applied to the wood, it penetrates into it. Mineral water and sodium silicate are contained in the solution in relatively equal proportions, so that the solution is a liquid with a stable viscosity and is oxidized to the initial thickening condition, that is, the degree at which hardening occurs after penetration into the wood, and not before. Those. the solution can be stored and transported, but once it is applied to the wood, it hardens into it. When the solution content of the wood is high enough, the solution-impregnated wood takes on the characteristics of petrified wood. In this state, the tree can no longer be burned, even if it is exposed to high humidity or wet for a long time. The observed petrification occurs quickly through drying of the wood.”

The patent states that the amount of acid in the solution turns out to play important role in the hardening phase within the cellular structure of the tree, although evaporation also plays a significant role in this process. The wood is thoroughly impregnated and, if necessary, even treated several times or immersed in the solution. And once dry, it clearly has all the characteristics of petrified wood, including its appearance.

Both Hicks and researchers from the University of Washington laboratory talk about the potential uses of such "instant" petrified wood:

Fire-resistant wooden structures, such as houses and stables (then horses wouldn't chew petrified wood either!).

Durable coverings, floors and furniture.

Wood with increased strength for use in construction.

Wood protected from insects, decay and salt water for building buildings, etc.

Fast natural petrification

The chemical components used to artificially petrify wood can be found in nature and within sedimentary rocks. In this case, is it possible for natural petrification to occur quickly under the influence of these processes? Certainly! Sigleo reported that the rate of silica deposition in wood blocks in alkaline springs located in Yellowstone National Park (USA) is between 0.1 and 4.0 mm per year.

Some startling reports have come from Australia. Pigott, writing for the Australian magazine Lapidary, recounts what he saw in southwest Queensland:

". . From Mrs. McMurray of Blackall I heard a story that shocked me and seems to have destroyed many ideas about the age of petrified wood. Mrs. McMurray has a piece of wood that has been turned to stone and has obvious ax marks on it. She says that the tree from which this piece was cut grew on her father's farm in Eutella, located near Rome, and was cut down by her father about 70 years ago. The tree was partially hidden underground, and when it was dug up, it was petrified. At the end of her story, Mrs. McMurray said that another resident of her town had a piece of a petrified fence post with holes made for the wire and with a piece of wire.

“Petrified wood thousands of years old? I wonder, or is that so?”

A few months later, Pearce added to these amazing stories of wood that quickly petrified in the soil of outback Queensland:

". . . Piggott writes about petrified wood with ax marks, and also about a petrified fence post."

“This kind of discovery, of course, occurs frequently. In the Hagenden district of North Queensland... Parkinsonia trees near one ranch were inundated and covered with sediment in a flood in 1918. The sediment was later washed away by a flood in 1950. Parts of the tree trunk turned into a nice colored stone. However, most of the trunk and its branches have completely disappeared."

“At Zara Ranch, located about 48 km from Hughenden (North Queensland), I was repairing a fence. The old posts of this fence in some places passed through the black soil into the shaley clay. The acacia wood in this black soil was still perfect. Then it ended as smoothly as if it had been sawed off, and the several inches of the pillar in the shale-like clay were pure stone. Every ax mark could be clearly seen on this post and the tree retained its color as the day it was cut down. . . ."

“I know that in the dunes near Boulia [southwest Queensland], where the fences are often almost completely covered by moving sand, it is common for the sand to slide off after a few years, leaving the fence posts standing upright.”

From the other side of the world, word has been received of the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, built in 1630 in Venice, Italy, to celebrate the end of the plague. Since Venice is built on water-soaked clay and sand, the church was built on 180,000 wooden piles to reinforce its foundation. Even though the church is a massive stone structure, it has remained stable since its foundation. How did wooden piles remain strong for 360 years? They are petrified! Now the church stands on “stone” piles!

Experimental confirmation

Of course, none of these reports should surprise us, since the processes of petrification of wood have long been known, as well as the fact that this process can and has happened quickly. For example, Scurfield and Segnit reported that the wood petrification process can be considered as five stages:

1. The entry of quartz in solution or in the form of a colloid into wood.
2. Penetration of quartz into the cell walls of wood structure.
3. Gradual disintegration of the cell walls, which at the same time are replaced by quartz, so that the wood's dimensional stability is maintained.
4. Filling voids inside cell wall frames with quartz.
5. Final hardening (lithification) as a result of drying.

Conclusion

Data that has been obtained by scientists in laboratories, as well as in God's natural laboratory, shows that in their respective chemical conditions Wood can quickly petrify through silicification, even at normal temperatures and pressures. The process of petrification of wood is now so well known and understood that, if desired, scientists can quickly petrify wood in their laboratories.

Unfortunately, most people continue to think and have this thinking imposed on them, that petrification of petrified wood buried in strata rocks, should have taken thousands, if not millions, of years. This thinking is clearly incorrect, since it has been demonstrated time and again that petrification of wood can occur, and occurs rapidly. Thus, the time interval for the formation of petrified wood within the geological record is completely consistent with the Biblical time scale of recent creation and the subsequent devastating Global Flood.

Petrified wood is an organogenic rock that was formed during past geological eras from the remains of trees that underwent metamorphic changes.

In the trees of Coal and Permian period, who died under the sediment of volcanic products, in the absence of oxygen access, the organic components were gradually replaced by mineral elements: often by opal and chalcedony, less often by siderites and quartz. The auxiliary components were carbonates, iron hydroxides and pyrites. Under the influence of these processes and time, ordinary wood turned into fossils of unique beauty, which, even after millions of years, retained their natural wood texture.

The physical properties of petrified wood are similar to many rock-forming minerals. Fossils are characterized by high hardness and density, are easily processed due to the lack of brittleness, and have a waxy luster and conchoidal fracture. The crystals lack cleavage, as well as the effects of iridescence and pleochroism. Petrified wood does not react to acids, is not malleable and has no magnetic properties.

The structure of wood stone is opaque with predominant shades of brown, black, gray and red. Lines are indicated in white, but sometimes the line can be colored.

Varieties of petrified wood

Wood fossils are divided into varieties based on structural features and texture.

• Homogeneous fossils. They have an almost uniform texture and color of the rings, divided into zones by lines. Wood species with an opal-rich structure are characterized by light, almost white colors.
• Spotted fossils. Decorative variety wood species, the structure contains a combination of chalcedony and opal, supplemented with iron hydroxides. The ratio of these elements determines the zonal coloration of brown shades and the texture of the fossil: banded or spotted.
• Jet-shaped petrified tree. The basis of black fossils is opal or carbonate with the obligatory presence of carbon. The texture is distinguished by clearly defined lines, which in some cases turn into a wavy pattern. Visually, ebony resembles jet or black jade.
• Concentrically zoned fossil. The rock alternates multi-colored stripes, saturated with opals or a combination of chalcedony with opals. Brown, beige and white colors alternate between the growth rings, giving the fossil a rich, banded texture.
• Lens fossil. The structure is formed by filling the voids in the wood with a composition of iron hydroxides, chalcedony and opals. The result is a linear lens-like or spectacle-like texture.

Place of Birth

Deposits of petrified wood are most often located in areas of volcanic eruptions. The largest deposit of beautiful and high-quality fossils is located in the US state of Arizona in the National Park called the “Petrified Forest”. Tree trunks of amazing colors up to 65 meters long and up to 3 meters in diameter were found in this area. Also in the USA, production is carried out in Oregon and Washington.

Significant deposits of petrified wood are found in India, Georgia, Syria, Iraq, Argentina, New Zealand, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Canada, Greece and the Czech Republic. In Russia, petrified trees were discovered in the Primorsky Territory, as well as in the territories of Kamchatka and Chukotka. In Ukraine, wood fossils are found in the Lviv region.

Many deposits in which large petrified trees with unique and amazing patterns were discovered are recognized as nature reserves or national parks, therefore no mining is carried out in them.

The magical properties of petrified wood

In ancient cultures, petrified wood was considered a symbol of the universe. Protective magical objects were made from it, which protected the house and its inhabitants from theft, accidents, natural disasters, predatory animals, enemies and envious people. Figurines carved from wood fossils and placed in the house contributed to the harmonization of relationships, respect and mutual understanding between relatives.

Among the Slavs, amulets made of petrified wood with protective symbols acted as a kind of energy shield, reflecting negative messages in the form of damage, slander or the evil eye. Carvings of gods and beasts were used in rituals to evoke higher power, ask for luck in hunting or a good harvest.

In modern times, petrified wood is used to attract material wealth and achieve goals as quickly as possible. The stone teaches you to overcome obstacles with dignity, to perceive life-changing changes philosophically, to enjoy existing benefits, to enjoy accomplishments and pleasant little things, without getting hung up on the material sphere.

Medicinal properties

Petrified wood has a positive effect on the human body. It affects vitality and physical activity, relieves stress, and restores emotional balance. Petrified wood is believed to have the ability to prolong life.

Plates cut from fossils are used by lithotherapists for application procedures for arthritis, rheumatoid pain and other joint diseases. Pieces of wood are applied to injured areas to relieve pain.

Petrified wood is used during the treatment of infectious diseases as an adjuvant that enhances the effect medicines. Beads and necklaces made from it stabilize blood pressure, prevent the development nervous disorders and depression.

Petrified wood products and prices

The unique pattern and high hardness make petrified wood in demand in many areas. First of all, it's high quality finishing material, which in combination with glass, rock-forming minerals and metal creates a unique and stylish room decor.

Sections of large trees are used to make countertops, cabinets, sinks, stands, mantelpieces, which are made in a variety of variations, while leaving the natural shape of the edges or giving the product strict geometric parameters. Despite the fact that furniture made from fossil wood is heavy, it looks impressive when combined with modern home furnishings.

The price of petrified wood furniture depends on its size, texture and quality of material. For example, the cost of a tabletop with legs varies from $350 to $1000. The price of the sink will be $400-700. A stand designed in the shape of a panda figurine is more expensive. Its cost reaches $1200.

Fragments of petrified wood are used in crafts, making souvenirs from them. desk sets, balls on stands, carved figures of animals, ashtrays, vases and candelabra. A souvenir egg on a stand made of petrified wood costs from $60 to $150. The cost of wood cuts presented in the form of panels, depending on the size, is $200-1200. Tumbled crystals measuring 1-3 cm, intended for making magical items, can be purchased at affordable price from 0.5 to 2$.

Petrified wood is used in jewelry to create jewelry with unique designs. An elegant pendant with a polished stone in a silver frame can be purchased for $50; the cost of a ring, depending on the size of the processed crystal, ranges from $25 to $50.

Onyx – a stone of energy and strength
Opal - a stone of false hopes Jet protective amulet black color Shungite – healing black stone

To give a simple definition, petrified wood can be characterized as a wood species of past eras according to geological chronology, where the wood is replaced by minerals, for example, chalcedony or opal, as well as others belonging to the silica family. Although tree species completely replaced by mineral wood, the structure of the wood is preserved: chronological rings, leaf and stem structure, etc.

petrified wood

Petrification of wood can only occur under conditions when the tree is under an impressive layer of sediment, without oxygen and the ability to rot and carbonize. At the same time, it must be exposed to solutions rich in minerals. Cellulose and the wood itself are destroyed, and instead of them the space is occupied by mineral rock, which, when petrified, repeats the entire structure and structure of the destroyed tree.

This is how petrified wood is created. However, a simplified version is described here, since there is no need for a non-professional to go into detail.

In addition to the main mineral rocks, petrified wood may contain: lemonites, pyrites, manganese oxides, etc.

The most suitable natural conditions

Most often, petrified wood is formed in areas with seismic activity and post-volcanic processes with metamorphism during low temperatures. In this case, silicic acid should be active during the burial of trees under volcanic elements. Also, a similar process of formation of petrified wood is possible when wood is buried under crumbly sedimentary materials, which include sand dunes, moraines, etc.

They can form in various parts of the world where conditions are similar to those described above.

Petrified wood is a stone (photos below) that is used for the production of jewelry and ornaments. It is also often collected because they are very diverse.

Places of distribution

One of the largest and most famous deposits of petrified trees is Holbrook in Arizona (USA). Back in 1906, it was created here National Park. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. here a large deposit of petrified trees was found, which have a high density and hardness, have the most best quality and coloring books in the world.

In addition to Arizona, stone trees are also found in some other parts North America, but in smaller quantities.

Outside of America, they are mined in India, Syria, Iran and other countries in the Middle East. There is also a significant deposit in Greece, on the island. Lesbos. They are also found in the Caucasus, Armenia and Georgia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Petrified wood in Russia can be found in the Volga region, Samara and Volgograd regions. There are also deposits in Siberia, as well as Far East(Kamchatka, Primorsky Krai, Chukotka Peninsula). There are also focal minor finds in the European part of Russia.

Petrified wood: properties

These minerals exhibit a shine reminiscent of reflections from wax or glass. They practically do not undergo cleavage and have a conchoidal fracture.

On the Mohs scale (which measures hardness), minerals of this type can range from 4 to 6 points. Characteristic feature is the variety of colors and colors that can simultaneously occur even on one cut.

This occurs due to various types of impurities present in the rock. For example, an admixture of carbon gives a very dark, almost black color, and oxidized iron gives a reddish color. Depending on the impurity, the color and some other properties may vary slightly.

It is worth noting that both deciduous and coniferous trees are equally subject to petrification. It is noteworthy that coniferous fossils may contain amber admixtures.

Application

Petrified trees, which can be millions of years old, have been used by craftsmen to make jewelry and other jewelry since ancient times.

Even after hundreds of years, this mineral continues to be actively used for the production of jewelry and accessories. It is easy to process, and such jewelry items look beautiful and stylish. Stones with small patterns and designs are most often used as inserts in earrings, rings, etc. They look very harmonious with noble metals - gold, silver, platinum.

They can also be used for interior decoration, decorating household items and making souvenirs. They are often used to make gift pens, ashtrays, jugs and vases, etc.

They are used to make countertops and shelves, but most often such products are used not for household purposes, but as interior decoration or an item for a personal collection. They are not only of visual value, but also of historical value, because this material is millions of years old.

Cost of products

Prices for products made from this material are formed not only taking into account the value of the petrified wood itself, but also taking into account the cost of the craftsman’s services, depreciation of equipment, transportation, etc. Therefore, it is almost impossible to determine the exact cost without carefully calculating all costs and analyzing the market.

However, according to statistics, average cost For example, coffee tables made of this material range from 70-120 thousand rubles. Large tables can cost 300 thousand, or 400, and even more.

The average price for wash basins is determined in the range from 40 to 60 thousand rubles. At the same time, such a product will serve for years and looks very stylish. There are many uses for fossilized rocks. People value them primarily because of their aesthetic properties, durability and exclusivity.

As for jewelry and accessories, it is almost impossible for a layman to determine the cost of the petrified wood itself. Moreover, they always come as an addition to the main material, gold or other precious metal.

Conclusion

Petrified wood (photos in the article show the variety of its samples) is a chic way to decorate the interior of a home, adding zest and a special atmosphere to it. This material will also help refresh the style of your home and make its appearance more attractive.

Products made from petrified wood not only add originality and exoticism, but also improve the image, making it more authentic. The attractive qualities of this material are very high.

In addition, the material is durable and quite strong, which further increases consumer interest in it. It is not surprising that people are willing to pay a lot of money to become owners of items made from this stone. Nature has done a good job of creating such an unusual and attractive mineral, and people have adapted it to their lives.