Chinchilla Red Petrified Wood from Australia

Description: The petrified wood common to this area of Australia is known as 'Chinchilla Red' because of its unique color and quality of preservation. Take note of the spectacular preservation of the tree rings and cellular structure. Most petrified wood loses these structural components during the process of petrification. This finely polished and lustrous specimen shows a wide array of colorful red, brown, and tan hues. It would make a unique decorative piece, or splendid addition to your fossil collection.

Petrified wood is the name given to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is the result of a tree having turned completely into stone by the process of permineralization. All the organic materials have been replaced with minerals (mostly a silicate, such as quartz), while retaining the original structure of the wood. The petrifaction process occurs underground, when wood becomes buried under sediment and is initially preserved due to a lack of oxygen, which inhibits aerobic decomposition. Mineral-laden water flowing through the sediment deposits minerals in the plant's cells; as the plant's lignin and cellulose decay, a stone mold forms in its place. In general, wood takes less than 100 years to petrify. The organic matter needs to become petrified before it decomposes completely.