Great size for Tumbling!
Petrified wood from the Monkey Puzzle Tree in Madagascar is from the Triassic period approximately 220 million years old.
Petrified wood is a fascinating material formed through the process of fossilization, where organic material such as wood is replaced by minerals over millions of years.
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Color: Petrified wood can display a wide range of colors depending on the minerals present during the fossilization process. Common colors include shades of brown, red, yellow, orange, and black.
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Hardness: Petrified wood has a hardness of around 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, which is comparable to that of quartz. This makes it relatively hard and durable.
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Clarity: Petrified wood typically doesn't exhibit transparency or clarity as it is a fossilized material. However, its internal structure and grain patterns can be well preserved and visible.
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Luster: Petrified wood often has a glassy to waxy luster, especially when polished. The luster can vary depending on the specific minerals that replaced the organic material during fossilization.
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Density: The density of petrified wood can vary depending on factors such as the types of minerals present and the degree of compression during fossilization. Generally, it has a density similar to that of the original wood.
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Metaphysical Properties: Petrified wood is associated with grounding, stability, and transformation. It is believed to carry the energy of the Earth and to help connect one with nature. Some metaphysical practitioners use petrified wood for meditation, grounding rituals, and connecting with ancestral energies. It's also associated with patience, endurance, and strength, reflecting the immense time and pressure involved in its formation.
Photos have not been edited or altered, just taken in different daylight conditions to show the variation in color. Pieces are held in hand to help with scale and does not necessarily represent 1 pound. Specific pieces photographed may no longer be available.