Zimbabwe Petrified Wood For Sale

The Triassic-aged petrified wood from the Molteno Formation near Gokwe, Zimbabwe is a favorite among collectors. This petrified wood is known for its striking colors, primarily unique green and blue-green colorations attributed to the presence of chromium during the fossilization process. They also exhibit outstanding preservation of the ancient trees' inner structures. Some specimens are so immaculately preserved that even microstructures are occasionally possible to observe. The most common genus from this formation is Woodworthia, though Rhexoxylon and Araucarioxylon are less frequently seen.

6 Items ($75 to $295)

Petrified Seed Fern (Rhexoxylon) Slab - Zimbabwe #239334

11.7" Petrified Seed Fern (Rhexoxylon) Slab - Zimbabwe

$295 $265

Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe #210888

9.3" Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe

$175 $157

Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe #167951

6.1" Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe

$95 $83

Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe #244899

5.8" Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe

$75 $50

Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe #167945

6.5" Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe

$75 $69

Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe #167955

5.8" Triassic Petrified Wood (Woodworthia) Round - Zimbabwe

$75 $67

The Petrified Forest

Some of the most colorful petrified wood in the world comes from a Triassic-aged (220 million years old) fossil forest just west of Gokwe, Zimbabwe. This forest is home to at least two recognizable genera of tree, Araucarioxylon and Woodworthia, and the giant fern Rhexoxylon. Zimbabwe petrified wood is particularly interesting to collectors because of its tendency to bear a pale green color. This color is now attributed to the presence of chromium compounds in the groundwater as the fallen trees silicified. Like petrified wood from Arizona, Zimbabwe petrified wood is also noted for its outstanding coloring (pinks, yellows, reds, oranges, and greens to green-blues) and extreme detail of preservation. Triassic Zimbabwe was at a different latitude than it is today: it was further south of the equator. This difference in location would have made Triassic Zimbabwe temperate, rather than tropical like it is today. Paleontologists believe that the fossil forest west of Gokwe was once thick and marshy, potentially containing many swamps. These conditions are prime for trees to fall and petrify.

How Does Petrification Occur?

Petrification of wood can happen in a few ways, but the most common process is by way of silicification. When a tree falls and is covered by sediment, and if that covering is quick and complete enough, it will completely vacate the environment around the tree of oxygen. This lack of oxygen protects the tree from rotting and decaying. If conditions allow, groundwaters rich in silica, calcite, and other minerals will seep through the buried tree and replace the organic material with inorganic material as it slowly decomposes. What you are left with is a (non-carbon!) copy of the tree made of rock instead of organic matter. In Zimbabwe, this is almost exactly what happened. The marshy environment around the forest let fallen trees sink quickly into sediment and begin the silicification process. The groundwater in Triassic Zimbabwe was rich in silicates, magnesium, iron, copper, and chromium. This chromium content is likely responsible for the green color that draws so many collectors to Zimbabwe petrified wood.

Types Of Petrified Wood From Zimbabwe

The primary genera of trees found in Zimbabwe are thought to be related to the modern Araucariaceae family of conifer trees. These two genera are Araucarioxylon and Woodworthia. Both of the genera are conifers: coniferous plants are fairly rare in modern Zimbabwe, but they were much more common in the Triassic across almost all latitudes.

Araucarioxylon - There seems to be some confusion surrounding the classification of trees within Araucarioxylon. A general rule of thumb is that a Araucaria tree from the Mesozoic is classified as Araucarioxylon, and a Paleozoic Araucaria will fit into Dadoxylon. A notable difference between the two is that Araucarioxylon lacks resin canals and the pith does not have serrations, whereas Dadoxylon does.

Woodworthia -This genus closely resembles Araucarioxylon, but Woodworthia often has many leaf and stem traces running on the faces of cross sections and along the bark of well-preserved specimens.

Rhexoxylon - Rhexoxylon represents a genus of giant seed-bearing ferns that grew alongside Araucarioxylon and Woodworthia in the Triassic forests of Zimbabwe. This genus is characterized by its multiple wedged-shaped centers of growth. This growth pattern is very attractive in cross-section and makes an excellent display piece, especially when colored a vibrant blue-green.

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ZIMBABWE PETRIFIED WOOD FOR SALE

The Petrified Forest

How Does Petrification Occur?

Types Of Petrified Wood From Zimbabwe

Featured Photos