How do I identify petrified wood? I found a rock in my woods that,at first looked like a rotted piece of tree.

Question

The piece is about 10" x 4", from southeast pennsylvania. Would that be worth $?

Answer 1

The value of petrified wood depends on these factors:

1. "Rounds" that contain the pith or center of the tree and concentric growth rings are most valuable.
2. Secimens that contain quartz geodes, boring insect galleries, ashes of petrified hickory nuts, or other unusual features have greater value; as do petrified burls with spiral cell growth patterns.
3. Generally the brighter and more colorful the specimen the higher the value.
4. If the growth rings are clearly visible the specimen is worth more, unless it is a type of fossil wood that has no growth rings (e.g. palm).
5. Specimens that have been skillfully prepared are more valuable than ones that have poor workmanship or no preparation at all.
6. Some collecting areas that ware now closed or depleted, making specimens from that area more valuable because of scarcity.
7. Specimens from new collecting sites add value until supply catches up with demand.
8.Specimens that are casts with the outside appearing as the natural wood form are worth more than ones that have been fractured and broken.
9. Hardwood, it is usually worth more than a softwood (with the exception of pre Tertiary wood).
10. Depending on the interests of the buyer hardwoods that retain enough cell structure to identify as to the family or genus they represent are rare and more valuable. (Certain families and genera are more rare than others and the scarcity increases value.)

Answer 2

Petrified Wood Identification

Answer 3

How To Identify Petrified Wood

Answer 4

Petrified wood is a type of fossil: it consists of fossil wood where all the organic materials have been replaced with minerals (most often a silicate, such as quartz), while retaining the original structure of the wood. The petrifaction process occurs underground, when wood becomes buried under sediment. Mineral-rich water flowing through the sediment deposits minerals in the plant's cells and as the plant's lignin and cellulose decay away, a stone mold forms in its place. The wood is preserved due to a lack of oxygen.

Minerals such as manganese, iron, and copper in the water/mud during the petrification process give petrified wood a variety of color ranges. Quartz crystals are colorless, but when iron is added to the process the crystals become stained with a yellow or red tint.

Following is a list of minerals and related color hues:

carbon - black
cobalt - green/blue
chromium - green/blue
copper - green/blue
iron oxides - red, brown, yellow
manganese - pink/orange
manganese oxides - black
silica - white, grey
Petrified wood can preserve the original structure of the wood in all its detail, down to the microsopic level. Structures such as tree rings and the various tissues are often observed features.

Petrified wood has a Mohs hardness level of 7, the same as quartz, materials from which scientists have been able to make artificial petrified wood recently [1].

Petrified wood is also the state gem of Washington.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrified_wood

Answer 5

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

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