Where is Petrified Wood found?
Silicified Wood (variety of 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 silicified with chalcedony and exhibits a wide range of vibrant colors due to iron and manganese oxides.
Gresik, East Java, Indonesia
Known for large logs of petrified wood, often with excellent preservation of cellular structure and rich, earthy tones. These deposits are typically Cenozoic in age.
Patagonia, Argentina
Features extensive petrified forests, particularly in the Sarmiento Petrified Forest National Monument, with large, well-preserved logs from the Jurassic period.
Lescun, France
Contains significant petrified wood occurrences, often with fine detail and varied coloration.
Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada
Home to a unique 'fossil forest' from the Eocene epoch, where the wood is not silicified but rather lignified and preserved in an anoxic environment, though some silicified examples exist.
Collecting tips
- Look for Sedimentary Environments. Focus on areas with exposed sedimentary rock layers, especially those associated with ancient riverbeds, floodplains, volcanic ash deposits, or lake beds. Arid regions often have better exposure of these formations.
- Identify Wood Grain and Rings. Even though it's stone, petrified wood retains the characteristic patterns of wood, including growth rings, bark texture, and sometimes even knot holes or insect borings. Look for these distinctive features.
- Check for Hardness. Petrified wood, being mostly quartz, is quite hard (Mohs 6.5-7). It will scratch glass and cannot be easily scratched by a steel knife. This distinguishes it from ordinary wood or softer fossils.
- Observe Luster and Fracture. It typically has a vitreous to waxy luster and exhibits a conchoidal to splintery fracture, similar to chert or flint.
- Respect Regulations. Collecting petrified wood is often restricted or prohibited in national parks, monuments, and some public lands. Always check local regulations and obtain necessary permits before collecting.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (brown, gray, red, yellow, black, multi-colored)
- Luster:
- Vitreous to waxy
- Streak:
- White
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