Petrified Wood Araucaria

This is unique, wide slab of petrified wood Araucaria (Conifer).

* Size: 7.5" x 6" x 5/8" (19 cm x 15 cm x 1.6 cm)
* Species: Araucaria (Conifer)
* Age: Early Triassic 220 million years ago
* Location: N.W. Island Area Mahajanga-Toliara of Madagascar.
* Nicely polished on one side

Petrified wood is the name given to wood that has been turned into stone (fossilized) through the process of permineralization. All of the organic matter becomes replaced by minerals, while much of the original structure such as tree rings in retained. For this to happen the wood needs to be buried in an environment both low in oxygen (preventing decomposition) and with flowing mineral laden water.