Fossilized trees can be found all over the world. Trees that has retained its form but has solidified and has turned into petrified wood. Here in the Philippines there are some wood that has been recovered which dates back 750,000 years ago. Here are some of the petrified wood that were discovered in our country.

Trees of Stone

These specimens were recovered from Cagayan in the Northern island of Luzon, Philippines. These specimens was told that dates back 750,000 years ago but has no descriptions of the species of trees.

Normally organic matter decomposes but in the event that a tree is buried immediately by sediments or volcanic ash. Oxygen is deprived and along with ground water embedded with minerals it seeps into the wood and its cells are replaced by the minerals. The process of petrification is long and will take thousands and even millions of years to complete.

The specimens are out in the open people are allowed to touch it and examine closer. It is the first time I have come close to a petrified tree. I may have seen some before but I guess did not care much about it until now. It was hard like stone and I even tried to raise it up a bit with one hand to see if it budges. It is heavy and the looks of it is very deceiving.

Its features clearly shows that it is a part of a tree that might have broken off and then buried under layers of sediment. This fossil cannot be mistaken for a rock and looking at it, I say it maybe a part of the connecting branch from the tree trunk.

The color of the fossil is also determined by the type of mineral that seeps into the wood. There are different colors that ranges from black, blue, red, green, orange, yellow and a lot more. This sample has traces of brown and yellow which means that the ground water solution may have iron oxides.

Other mineral would give a petrified tree beautiful colors bursting bright colors which is like an artwork from nature. I would be sharing in the near future more specimens from around the world. For the meantime these are just some of the local specimens from our country.

These fossils are not worth much according to my research but there are some exotic ones that are polished. Those that are polished would fetch up to hundreds of dollars or even more. Some are turned into stools and table tops which are gorgeous.

It may just look like rocks for some but these trees has undergone millions of years of transformation. If you cannot wait millions of years. There has been a scientific discovery to petrify wood and the process would last up to five days. The wood is immersed in hydrochloric acid. After two days it is placed in a solution of titanium or silica for additional two days. It is then air dried and then set in a furnace with argon gas. The heating process will take two hours at 1400 degrees Celsius. It is then cooled down exposed to argon gas. The result is like a ceramic petrified wood.

These are just some of the discoveries from our country. Although there are more which are discovered for other parts of the Philippines. These on display were gifts to the museum for the public to be able to appreciate trees that has gone thru transformation for 750,000 years.

Thanks for joining me and I hope you join me again when I share other specimens. Specimens which are more exotic from all over the world.

Transformation is the only thing that is constant in this world. Have a good evening Steemians.

Source and resouces
Petrified Wood
geology.com
awkwardbotany

Photos are original and shot from
national museum

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All photos are original and taken with

Lumix GX85 and 12-32 mm