14.3" Petrified Wood (Araucaria) Stand-Up With Fungal Rot - Arizona

Petrified Wood (Araucaria) Stand-Up With Fungal Rot - Arizona #297297

This is a gorgeous and unique, 14.3" wide polished section of petrified wood (Araucaria) from Navajo County, Arizona. It is cut flat and polished to a glossy finish on one side and has been left in its rough state around the edges and along the backside. What makes this petrified wood specimen so unique is the wood contains fossilized fungus (the circular formations) along the outer edge. This parasitic fungus grew on the tree while it was still alive and has been named Polyporites wardii.

The base of the specimen has been cut flat vertical presentation on a flat surface.

What Is Petrified Wood

Petrified wood is the name given to wood that has been turned into stone (fossilized) through the process of permineralization. In this process, all of the organic matter becomes replaced by minerals, while much of the original structure, such as tree rings, is retained. For this to happen, the wood needs to be buried in an environment low in oxygen to prevent decomposition and with flowing, mineral-laden water, so minerals may replace structures. The coloration is caused by various minerals that present in that water during fossilization. For example, red colors are due to iron compounds, greens due to copper, and so on.

SPECIES

Araucaria sp. & Polyporites wardii (Fungus)

AGE

Late Triassic (~225 Million Years)