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Elm (Ulmus sp.)
Trout Creek Formation, Miocene McDermitt diggings, Oregon/Nevada ** While certainly not rare, we don’t see much elm from McDermitt on the market. Great specimen for the microscope enthusiast. Please check out the photomicrograph top right to see how well preserved this specimen is. In addition to the outstanding structure preservation, this limb has fabulous external character. Very attractive knotholes, a beetle boring, and wood grain character will enable even the most novice observer to conclude that this is petrified wood This is a nice piece! 1.25” diameter on polished face; 5” long limb section $46 |
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Willow (Salix sp.)
Mehama Volcanics Unit, Little Butte Formation, Oligocene Holleywood Ranch, near Holley, Sweet Home area, Oregon ** Well, yes, we did spell Holleywood correctly. It is named and spelled this way because it is just outside the tiny, unincorporated hamlet of Holley, Oregon. In the really old mid- 20th century rockhounding days, it bore the name "Marker Ranch," and we still see some labels with this name applied to specimens. In any event, what we have here is an exceptional willow with a fantastic pith (no don't get me started on how it looks like a starfish...) We've included a photomicrograph (right) of this remarkable feature, as well as another closeup (far right) of the woody fine structure of the willow. The Holleywood Ranch was featured on the television program “Cash and Treasures” a few years back. It has produced some really exceptional wood -- even by the very high Sweet Home Petrified Forest standards! This specimen is a fine example of that quality. We particularly like the pattern created by differing iron oxide impurities in the chalcedony (red from hematite, black from Goethite, and tan from limonite). 6.75” x 4.5" on polished face; 1/2" thick slab $65 |
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Conifer (Pinales Order)
Tertiary Eagles Nest, near Burns, Oregon ** Amazing story with this quite small slice. There are more than 75 growth rings in this specimen -- although it measures only 3 inches on the longest dimension! There was obviously a struggle for survival going on for this small tree. Twenty-five years to grow an inch does NOT suggest a spot with all of the essentials needed for robust growth. Was it inadequate water? Poor soil with no nutrients? Perhaps too much shade? Even a Yew with the smallest coniferous tracheids can outpace this growth rate if it is in a decent habitat. Whatever the reason(s), it certainly makes for an attractive smaller slice of petrified wood with all those growth rings. 3" x 2" on polished face; 3/16" thick slice $35 |
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Tanoak (Lithocarpus sp.)
Mehama Volcanics Unit, Little Butte Formation, Oligocene Sweet Home area, Linn County, Oregon ** Wow, what a beauty, and one of the better-preserved slices of Tanoak that we have seen from the Sweet Home petrified forest. The perfect preservation is best seen microscopically in the tan areas of the slab. We particularly like the blue agate filling in some of the dessicaton cracks and cavities. The cracks were already present in the wood prior to petrification and later provided passageways for the groundwater to enter the log. Be sure to check closely our photomicrograph of the outstanding woody fine structure. The blue fortification agate filling some of the cavities in the old log gives this slab real aesthetic appeal. 9” x 7.5” on polished face; 5/8” thick slab $95 |