Name/Title
Petrified WoodEntry/Object ID
05.58.45Description
Assemblage Zone: sedimentary
Chemical Composition: Si O2
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Description: Family: Araucariaceae
Genus: Araucarioxylon
Species: Arizonicum
Common Name: araucaria or Monkey Puzzle
Age: Late Triassic
Location data: Chinle Formation, Arizona USA
Description: Polished face shows colors of blacks to brownish, greys, reds, towards the center there are yellowish to white and clear crystallization of calcite. There appears to be some growth rings apparent towards the center, the slab also appears to be somewhat of a complete round.
Type of Fossils Present: Plants
Fracture: conchoidal
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 deposition 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 or related volcanic mudflow. The organic material in the wood is then replaced by silica (SiO2), other minerals determined its colors.
Pressure: Low-Moderate
Rock Color: Medium
Rock Origin: Post-depositional
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.6
Surface Process: Not apparent
Streak: white
Temperature: Low
Texture: Microcrystalline
Variety: Petrified woods here are hydrous microcrystalline variety of quartz that can be generally termed as chalcedony.Collection
Petrified Wood CollectionAcquisition
Accession
05.58Source or Donor
Petrified Wood CollectionAcquisition Method
DonationOther Names and Numbers
Other Number
Other Number: 2005.58.45Dimensions
Width
10-1/2 inDepth
2-3/4 inLength
12 inDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Shelf
BottomCabinet
Case #103(a)Wall
EastBuilding
Mentzer Hall - Petrified Wood RoomCategory
Permanent
