5.2" Polished Petrified Shrinkwood Stand-Up - Parker, Colorado

Polished Petrified Shrinkwood Stand-Up - Parker, Colorado #302937

This is a colorful 5.2" tall stand-up of petrified shrinkwood that was collected from Parker, Colorado. The term "shrinkwood" refers to wood that following preservation, became fragmented, resulting in small cavities that become naturally "glued" back together by silica-rich fluids (chalcedony).

It has been polished to a glossy finish by one of the best polishers around. It doesn't have any of the tool marks or scuffing that might be left by lesser quality polishers. The base has been cut flat for free-standing presentation.

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.