 |
 |
 |
 |
Each sphere was created in Madagascar from a larger piece of “rough” fossilized petrified wood during a long process that used up many costly cutting blades as well as expensive diesel fuel to run the generator that ran the lathe (the capital of Madagascar receives only a few hours of electricity a day). Any “cracks” that you see are naturally occurring fractures that have re-cemented over the eons and thus are stable and in no danger of breaking or shattering. In addition, you’ll often see veins of clear quartz crystals and/or crystal-filled cavities. All are natural and unique to each specimen.
Petrified wood is a type of fossil consisting of ancient wood where all the organic materials have been replaced with minerals (usually crystalline quartz), while retaining the original structure of the wood. The petrifaction process occurs underground, when wood becomes buried under sediment. Mineral-rich water flowing through the sediment deposits minerals in the plant's cells, and as the plant's lignin and cellulose decay away, a stone mold forms in its place. Elements such as manganese, iron and copper in the water/mud during the petrification process give petrified wood a variety of color ranges. Since pure quartz crystal is colorless, only when such contaminants are present do the crystals take on a mixture of other colors. The following is a list of contaminating elements and related color hues:
• cobalt - green/blue
• chromium - green/blue
• copper - green/blue
• iron oxides - red, brown, yellow
• manganese - pink/orange
Any BRIGHT WHITE SPOTS seen are reflections of my lights used for photographing the specimens.
Last Modified 12/08/2008
| Return to Index | Main Wood Page | Questions? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 2.4" in diameter with a circumference of 7.5".
Madagascar Wood 7 - $30.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 2.6" in diameter with a circumference of 8.3".
Madagascar Wood 10 - $40.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 2.6" in diameter with a circumference of 8.2".
Madagascar Wood 11 - $40.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 2.9" in diameter with a circumference of 9.1".
Madagascar Wood 13 - $52.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 3.0" in diameter with a circumference of 9.4".
Madagascar Wood 15 - $56.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 3.1" in diameter with a circumference of 9.9".
Madagascar Wood 16 - $63.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 3.2" in diameter with a circumference of 10.1"
Madagascar Wood 22 - $85.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 3.3" in diameter with a circumference of 10.3"
Madagascar Wood 23 - $90.00
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Name: Araucaria (a conifer)
Geologic Age: Early Triassic (225 Million Years Old)
Location: Ambilobe, Madagascar
Comments: Sphere measures 3.4" in diameter with a circumference of 10.7"
Madagascar Wood 26 - $110.00