What is petrified wood?

First, it is really cool. Technically, it is a fossil formed when plant material is buried in sediment—often volcanic ash—and replaced over millions of years by minerals, primarily silica (quartz), chalcedony, or opal. This per-mineralization process replaces organic cells with stone, often preserving detailed structures like tree rings, bark, and knots in vibrant colors.

The colors usually indicate trace amounts of other elements, for example, iron. The trees are a mix of conifer trees, tree ferns, and some gingkoes. It should be noted, it is illegal to remove petrified wood from the park. It is readily available for purchase in the area and I of course did get some to bring home with me.

I have to be honest, the pictures really don’t do it justice. They even sparkle on sunny days. This is a park to add to your bucket list. Check back tomorrow for the photo of the week.