History of Science and Technology, Including Fossils, Minerals and Meteorites
History of Science and Technology, Including Fossils, Minerals and Meteorites
Auction Closed
December 17, 08:56 PM GMT
Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 USD
Lot Details
Description
FOUR TRUNKS OF INDONESIAN PETRIFIED WOOD
GENTENG FORMATION, BANTEN, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA
Four trunks of Dipterocarpaceae (20 x 61 x 20 cm; 20 x 90 x 20 cm; 20 x 72 x 16 cm; 15 x 58 x 15 cm), Pliocene (5-3 million years ago).
Petrified wood (from the latin Petro, meaning stone, and thus literally meaning "wood turned to stone") is the result of a process in which organic materials transition to stone via mineralization. Petrified wood is distinct from other fossilized plants, which are typically impressions, as they are actually three-dimensional representations of the original material, in which cell walls are replicated by minerals, and in most cases, completely replaced by them. Each chemical transformation is unique, with each specimen having its own distinct coloration; here we see mineralizations reminiscent of quartz, chalcedony, and jasper. A beautiful grouping, with colors of coffee, caramel, ivory and blue.