Where is Petrified Wood found?
Silicified wood (Chalcedony/Quartz)
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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 from ancient conifers (e.g., Araucarioxylon arizonicum) and exhibits a wide range of vibrant colors.
Gresford, New South Wales, Australia
Known for petrified wood from the Permian period, often exhibiting excellent preservation of cellular structures.
Lesbos Petrified Forest, Greece
A UNESCO Global Geopark featuring extensive petrified forest remains from the Miocene epoch, including standing petrified trees.
Patagonia, Argentina
Home to several petrified forests, including the Sarmiento Petrified Forest, with large petrified logs from the Jurassic period.
Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada
Contains a significant fossil forest from the Eocene epoch, where wood is preserved in a mummified, rather than fully petrified, state, but also includes silicified examples.
Collecting tips
- Look for distinctive wood grain. Even though it's stone, petrified wood often retains the characteristic patterns of wood grain, growth rings, and sometimes bark. This is the primary visual identifier.
- Check for hardness. Petrified wood, being mostly quartz, will be hard (Mohs 6.5-7). It will scratch glass and cannot be scratched by a steel knife.
- Observe fracture patterns. Due to its chalcedony/quartz composition, petrified wood will exhibit a conchoidal (shell-like) fracture, similar to flint or chert, rather than the fibrous fracture of fresh wood.
- Consider the geological context. Search in areas known for sedimentary deposits, especially ancient floodplains, riverbeds, or volcanic ash layers. Erosion often exposes petrified wood in these environments.
- Be aware of legal restrictions. Collecting petrified wood is often regulated, especially in national parks, monuments, and some public lands. Always check local regulations before collecting.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (brown, gray, red, yellow, black, etc.)
- Luster:
- Vitreous to waxy
- Streak:
- White
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