Polished Slab Of Petrified/Fossilized Wood 2x15"

Polished Slab of Petrified Wood, Age Unknown

Dimensions: 2" H x 15" W

This stunning polished slab of petrified wood offers a tangible connection to Earth's ancient forests, transformed through millions of years from living timber into stone. The term "petrified" comes from the Ancient Greek word petra, meaning rock or stone—quite literally, wood turned to stone through the remarkable geological process of permineralization. What makes this specimen particularly captivating is the exceptional preservation of the original wood's growth rings, cellular structure, and organic form, all meticulously revealed through careful polishing. The concentric rings radiating from what was once the tree's heart tell a story of seasonal growth cycles, recording years—perhaps even centuries—of the tree's life before it fell, was rapidly buried in sediment or volcanic ash, and began its slow transformation into the fossil we see today.

The coloration in this piece ranges from warm honey-gold to rich amber-brown with cream-colored bands, the result of various mineral impurities present during the petrification process. While most petrified wood is replaced primarily by silica in the form of quartz or chalcedony, trace elements like iron oxides can create these beautiful earth-toned variations. The polishing process has brought out a lustrous, almost glassy surface that catches and reflects light, emphasizing both the wood grain texture and the translucent quality of the stone. Running your hand across this surface, you'd feel the smooth, cool hardness of rock rather than the organic warmth of wood—a fascinating tactile reminder of the complete mineral replacement that occurred at the cellular level. The irregular, organic outline of the slab preserves the natural contours of the original wood slice, with the bark edge still visible along portions of the perimeter.

For this transformation to occur, very specific conditions had to align. The tree had to die and fall in an environment where it could be quickly buried—often by volcanic ash, river sediment, or mudflows—protecting it from normal decay processes by cutting off oxygen. Then, over thousands to millions of years, mineral-rich groundwater percolated through the surrounding sediment, slowly depositing silica and other minerals into the wood's cellular spaces, replacing the organic lignin and cellulose molecule by molecule while maintaining the wood's original structure. The result is a three-dimensional fossil that preserves not just the shape but the intimate internal architecture of the ancient tree. This piece could have originated from any number of famous petrified wood localities around the world—perhaps the volcanic sequences of the American West, the Miocene forests of New Zealand, or ancient ecosystems preserved in sedimentary deposits across continents.

Style: Natural History / Geological Specimen / Organic Modern

Maker: Nature, polished by unknown lapidary artist

Materials: Petrified wood (fossilized wood replaced by silica minerals, likely quartz or chalcedony)

Keywords: petrified wood, fossilized wood, polished fossil, natural history, geological specimen, permineralization, silicified wood, ancient wood, tree fossil, growth rings, mineralised timber, paleobotany, natural stone slab, lapidary art, decorative fossil, wood grain fossil, organic sculpture, prehistoric wood, geological treasure, chalcedony, quartz replacement, earth science, fossil collection, polished stone, natural artifact, geological time, ancient forest, mineral specimen, conversation piece, scientific specimen

Item Number: 5839-29

Item ID: 290749

Category: Centerpiece

• From: 3/8/26 - 4/6/26 Price: $80.32
• From: 4/7/26 - 5/7/26 Price: $71.40
• From: 5/8/26 - & After Price: $62.48