Petrified wood

Petrified wood jewelry

Etymology and history

Petrified wood (from the Greek root petro meaning "rock" or "stone"; literally "wood turned into stone") 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 (most often a silicate, such as quartz), while retaining the original structure of the wood.

Petrified wood description

Petrified wood has been preserved for millions of years by the process of petrification. This process turns the wood into quartz crystal which is very brittle and shatters. Even though petrified wood is fragile, it is also harder than steel. Petrified wood is known for it's exquisite color and detail. Some pieces of petrified wood have retained the original cellular structure of the wood and the grain can easily be seen. Petrified wood can be found throughout the desert regions. It is easy to find and identify. It is used often in jewelry making and for other types of decorative artwork. It is not wood that makes petrified wood colorful, but the chemistry of the petrifying groundwater. Minerals such as manganese, iron, and copper were in the water/mud during the petrification process.

Petrified wood in jewelry

The petrified wood jewelry is pretty amazing for everybody as the colors variety of petrified can be matched with every outfit and on every occasion, no matter the colors of the clothes. So, petrified wood jewels are suitable for everyone, both from a spiritual and aesthetic point of view. All that things, is important for the people to feel good wearing beautiful items of petrified wood jewelry.

Occurrence

Petrified wood comes from Argentina, Egypt and the Czech Republic, but the most famous source is of course The Petrified National Forest Park in Arizona.