Where is Petrified Wood found?
Petrified Wood
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Open the appPetrified Wood occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Petrified Wood
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA
World-renowned for its vast deposits of petrified wood, primarily from the Triassic Chinle Formation. The wood is predominantly silicified and exhibits a wide array of colors.
Gresford, New South Wales, Australia
Known for significant deposits of petrified wood, often exhibiting excellent preservation of cellular structures.
Patagonia, Argentina
Features extensive petrified forests, particularly in the Sarmiento Petrified Forest, with large trunks from the Tertiary period.
Lescun, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
Contains petrified wood deposits, often found in riverbeds and sedimentary layers.
Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada
Home to a fossil forest from the Eocene epoch, where wood is preserved in a mummified state (not fully petrified) but also includes some silicified examples.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Contains multiple petrified forests, some standing upright, formed from volcanic ash falls during the Eocene.
Collecting tips
- Look for specific geological formations. Research local geology for sedimentary layers, especially those associated with ancient floodplains, volcanic ash, or lake beds. Areas with a history of volcanic activity are often good prospects.
- Examine riverbeds and eroded areas. Water erosion can expose petrified wood. Look along riverbanks, dry washes, and areas where soil has been removed.
- Identify wood-like structures. Petrified wood retains the original shape and grain of wood. Look for pieces that resemble logs, branches, or stumps, but are unusually heavy and hard.
- Check for characteristic luster and hardness. Petrified wood, especially silicified varieties, will have a glassy to waxy luster and will be hard (scratching steel). It will not burn like regular wood.
- Be aware of collection regulations. Many areas, especially national parks and protected lands, prohibit or restrict the collection of petrified wood. Always check local regulations before collecting.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (browns, reds, grays, yellows, black, white, sometimes blue/green)
- Luster:
- Vitreous to waxy
- Streak:
- White (for silicified varieties)
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