Araucaria

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Araucaria

Entry/Object ID

78.58.339

Description

Assemblage Zone: sedimentary Chemical Composition: Si O2 Crystal System: Hexagonal Description: Family: Araucaiaceae Genus: Araucarioxylon Species; Arizonicum Common name: Araucaria or Monkey Puzzle Age: LateTriassic Location data: Chinle Formation, Utah USA Description: Delmar describes this pieces as 1/2" (1.2cm) thick slice of brecciated petrified wood from Utah. Polished side shows wood in mustard and reds, with some grey and black with grey and crystalline filler. Some beige wood seen. Growth rings (?) barely visible. Surface cracks seen. Delmar believe this piece was from Oligocene epoch but it is actually much older from the late triassic (Mesozoic era) Size: 5.00"x 3.675"x .500" Type of Fossils Present: Plants Grain Size: Fine Hardness: 7 Quartz Lithofacies: Fluvial System Luster: Glassy Occurrence: Silicified wood, which is the fossilization and opalization of organic woody matter by the deposation of SiO2 in a anaerobic environment to prevent decay. This means that the wood must somehow be buried in an oxygen free enviroment, possibly in the silt-laden river or the bottom of a lake or buried by volcanic ash. Pressure: Low-Moderate Rock Color: Medium Rock Origin: Terrestrial Rock Type: Sedimentary Specific Gravity: 2.6 Surface Process: Not apparent Temperature: Low Texture: microcrystalline Variety: Petrified woods here are hydrous microcrystalline variety of quartz that can be generally termed as chalcedony or opal.

Collection

Petrified Wood Collection

Acquisition

Accession

78.58

Source or Donor

Delmar Smith Petrified Wood Collection

Acquisition Method

Donation

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

Other Number: 1978.58.339

Dimensions

Width

3-11/16 in

Depth

1/2 in

Length

5 in

Dimension Notes

Dimensions taken at widest points

Location

Location

Container

Left

Drawer

Top Shelf

Shelf

Right

Cabinet

Case #103

Wall

East Wall

Building

Mentzer Hall- Petrified Wood Room

Category

Permanent

Location

Shelf

2nd shelf on right, 2nd shelf on right

Wall

far right

Room

Main, Mentzer Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent