Where is Petrified Wood found?
Silicified 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 from conifers like Araucarioxylon arizonicum, displaying vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows.
Gresford, New South Wales, Australia
Known for Permian-aged petrified wood, often exhibiting excellent preservation of cellular detail.
Patagonia, Argentina
Features extensive petrified forests, particularly in the Sarmiento Petrified Forest, with large logs from the Tertiary period.
Lescun, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
Contains petrified wood from the Cretaceous period.
Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada
Site of a fossil forest from the Eocene epoch, where petrified wood is found in situ.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Contains multiple layers of petrified forests, buried by successive volcanic eruptions during the Eocene.
Collecting tips
- Look for Sedimentary Environments. Focus on areas with ancient floodplains, riverbeds, volcanic ash deposits, or sedimentary rock formations known to contain fossils. Petrified wood is often found in association with sandstones, shales, and conglomerates.
- Identify Wood-like Structures. Search for rock fragments that exhibit characteristics of wood, such as growth rings, bark patterns, or internal cellular structures. The color can be highly variable, so rely more on form and texture.
- Check for Hardness. Petrified wood, being largely silica, is quite hard (Mohs 6.5-7). It will scratch glass and will not be easily scratched by a steel knife. This distinguishes it from modern wood or coal.
- Observe Fracture. Unlike modern wood which splinters, petrified wood will exhibit a conchoidal (shell-like) fracture, characteristic of quartz.
- Respect Regulations. Always check local regulations regarding fossil collection. Many significant petrified wood sites are protected, and collection may be prohibited or require permits. For example, collecting in Petrified Forest National Park is strictly forbidden.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (browns, reds, grays, blacks, etc.), often with wood grain patterns.
- Luster:
- Vitreous to waxy.
- Streak:
- White (due to the silica content).
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