LOOK
WHEN YOU
Petrified Wood: A Wonder of Nature
By Ruthy Stamp
The enticement with petrified wood that people have is centered in the almost unnatural fossilization. Similar to fools gold, petrified wood looks so similar to a real tree that it deceives people into thinking it's the real thing. The beautiful colors displayed on the rocks are caused by the specific sediments available in that region. Forests of petrified wood are found all over the world. Some of the most notable being the Petrified Forest National Park is in northeastern Arizona and the Petrified Forest of Lesbos, Greece.
When you look at the collection of petrified wood you see a unique preservation of nature that has fascinated rockhounders and nature enthusiasts for centuries. Petrified wood is created in a process called permineralization, where a tree is fallen and covered completely by water or volcanic sediments, cutting off all access to oxygen and stopping the process of decomposition. Over millions of years the wood is replaced by different minerals called silica.
Glen Leon Evans donated his collection of petrified wood, over 1,000 specimens collected by him and his wife Ruth, to the College of Idaho in 1970
More information on him can be found at EvansCollection
The unity of both a tree, an organism hailed as a symbol for life and strength, and stone, also associated in many cultures with strength combine to form the beautiful fossil that is Washington state’s official gemstone.
Many people value these rocks as precious stones, polish and carve them into beautiful art pieces, while others travel the world to see and collect the petrified specimens, such as Glen and Ruth Evans, who donated their collection to the museum. Still others don them as spiritual charms to give them stability and strength.
Whatever petrified wood is used for, nothing takes away from its unique natural beauty and mysterious creation.