Petrified Wood Fragment
Indeterminate Gymnosperm or Angiosperm wood fragment • Body fossil; Petrified/Permineralized plant material (Paleobotanical)
Geological Period
Likely Cretaceous to Neogene (widely variable based on geographic origin)
Estimated Age
Approximately 20 to 100 million years
Preservation Type
Permineralization (Silicification); cellular structure replaced by silica (chalcedony/quartz) with iron oxide staining.
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; significant fluvial abrasion has rounded all original sharp breaks, obscuring external bark detail.
Taxonomic Classification
Kingdom: Plantae; Phylum: Spermatophyta; Class: Uncertain (likely Pinopsida or Magnoliopsida)
Morphological Description
Elongated, water-worn pebble shape with visible longitudinal wood grain and tracheid-like vascular structures. Exhibits dark reddish-brown coloration with parallel striations representing original lignified tissue.
Rock Matrix
None (isolated piece); likely weathered from a sedimentary formation such as sandstone or mudstone.
Formation & Location
Commonly found in fluvial deposits such as the Hell Creek Formation (USA) or alluvial gravels globally.
Size & Dimensions
Small handheld fragment, approximately 3-5 cm in length (typical for small secondary-deposit pebbles).
Value & Rarity
Estimated Market Value
$5.00 - $15.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$10.00 - $30.00 USD (typically sold in bulk lots)
Rarity Assessment
Common; petrified wood is globally abundant in silicate-rich sedimentary basins.
Scientific Significance
Low; common specimen providing general evidence of ancient forest presence and local paleohydrology.
Preparation Recommendations
No chemical preparation needed. Can be lapidary polished to reveal internal cellular structures or kept as-is in a dry display.
Notable Features
Heavy water-wear suggests a long history of secondary transport in a river system before collection.