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Conifer (Pinales Order) Tertiary Austin, Oregon ** Unique locality specimens of conifer! The general locality is "Austin, Oregon." Since we were unable to pinpoint the exact location where this log was excavated, we can't assign more than a general age of Tertiary to it. But we are confident in the provenance of Austin. The vicinity of Austin has some quite complex Tertiary geology. There are Eocene outcrops of the Clarno Formation and Miocene outcrops of river deposited volcanic sediments which lasted into the early Pliocene. Since we have never seen any other wood from Austin and the literature is silent on fossil wood from the area, we can safely assume that it was likely only a single log or two that could be found, and whatever was there was totally harvested. This material came out of an old collection and we don't expect to see any more of it in the future. So, we will simply settle for the beauty of the piece, with its color and pattern being particularly stunning. There are three choices: Specimen A above -- a full round with growth rings so tight that one wonders how the tree made it so long on such a marginal habitat site. 9.5" x 8" on polished face; 3/4" thick slab $350 Specimen B above -- a wonderfully brecciated partial round, likely off of the very same tree, with pathways of white and clear chalcedony that accentuate the darker decaying bits of wood. 8" x 7.5" on brecciated wood polished face; 7/16" thick slab $300 Specimen C above -- a full round with a swirling two-tone pattern. 6.5" x 6" with two-tone polished face; 7/16" thick slab $275 Choose one or all - you may likely never see another chance to score a specimen from this unique locality. Each specimen qualifies for our 10% discount on orders totaling $200 or more. |
Possible Grape Family (Vitaceoxylon sp.)
Miocene Volcanic Deposits Texas Springs, Nevada ** We generally shy away form wood without good preservation but this interesting specimen is an exception because it tells a great story. Please see our photomicrograph and notice the large size of the rays (up to 10 cells wide). The pattern in between the rays shows misshaped vessels, a calamity actually caused by fungal growth - and it certainly appears that the fungus spread through individual vessels until it reached other fungal colonies growing from other vessels. The result of course, would be that both colonies ran out of anything left to consume and then ended up dying themselves, thus leaving a rather ghost-like appearance of their work. This kind of fungal growth usually suggests that the plant was already dead and down without any life to fight off the fungal advance. Further evidence is apparent on the exterior length where we can see quite a few pits created by larvae of insects that probably contributed to killing off the plant. This interesting specimen is polished on both ends of the section. 3" x 2" on the polished faces; 7.5" long vine section $35 |
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Undetermined dicot angiosperm wood (Incertae sedis)
Little Butte Formation, Mehama volcanics unit, Oligocene Rock Hill Drive, Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon ** Here's a new find from a construction project on Rock Hill Drive in Lebanon. It is the same Linn County petrified forest, but completely different mineralization than other areas in the county. This log was dead and down - very few patches of wood anatomical structure remain but the pattern created by the rot and compression is extraordinary. Almost no fossil wood has ever been found in Lebanon since it is further out in the Willamette Valley than most of the rest of the county. The town is on the edge of the Mehama Volcanics unit and the unit at that point is buried under the valley floor alluvium, so it is not generally accessible. If you are a locality collector aiming to add as many different localities as possible to your collection, this may be your one-time opportunity to add Lebanon. 7.5" x 5.5" on polished face; 7/16" thick slab $78 |
Pine with pocket rot (Pinus sp.)
Little Butte Formation, Mehama Volcanics unit, Oligocene McQueen Ranch, Sweet Home area, Linn County, Oregon ** The McQueen Ranch has not produced petrified wood for quite a long time, but a recent logging operation and the attendant soil disruption has produced some really nice specimens and we think we got some of the best! If you have been following our website during the past year you have already seen what interesting and beautiful specimens that the logging operation uncovered. The lapidary that obtained nearly all of the logs and limbs continues to produce really neat pieces like this one, which is different! The McQueen ranch is directly across the road from the famed Holleywood Ranch which has consistently produced enormous amounts of petrified wood, but the two neighboring sites could not be more different in mineralization. As a matter of fact, the mineralization diversity at the McQueen site is simply remarkable. This specimen is the core of an ancient pine tree which was attacked by pocket rot fungus producing the polka dot pattern. There is enough well preserved structure on the surviving portion of the growth outside of the core to determine that it was a pine (see our photomicrograph to the right). When the logging operation is complete and the trees begin to regrow, there won't be any more petrified wood discovered for a considerable period of time. So, if you like the striking patterns produced by this lovely material we suggest you acquire a specimen for your own collection before it is all gone - we did! 5" x 6" on polished face; end cut varying from 3.5" to 5" $130 |
Black locust with pocket rot (Robinia sp.)
Trout Creek Formation Miocene Private Ranch near McDermitt, Oregon/Nevada border ** A very successful dig on the private portion of Zimmermann Ranch in 2019 uncovered a trove of excellent and diverse fossil woods and we think we got some of the best ones! This dig was by a member of the Zimmermann family on the land owned by the family - we note that public Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands adjacent to the family ranch have long been excavated by rockhounds and simply referred to as Zimmermann Ranch even though the actual land is public domain. The fossil record seems to indicate that the genus Robinia may have originated in North America and has been here since at least the Oligocene. However, the fact that it is fast growing, very dense and exceptionally durable, has made it a plantation species that is now planted in rows throughout Europe and parts of Asia, since it is fast growing it can be harvested early. The durability of black locust is an interesting factor in the slab we are presenting here; durability means resistance to fungus rot and bacterial destruction, yet our slab has plenty of pocket rot, especially at the center of the heartwood. Over the years we have seen a lot of this genus from McDermitt but very little of it had pocket rot fungus. AND, that which we have seen in the past was not exceptionally attractive like this one! If unique and aesthetic qualities are part of your collecting strategy, then this is a must have for you. 4.25” x 4" on the polished face; 3/8” thick slab $45 |
Conifer wood in Stromatolitic Algae
"Tonopah Wood" Miocene Tonopah, Nevada ** An exceptional example of “Tonopah Wood” with incredible patterning and our favorite combination of color for the algae in "Tonopah Wood" - salmon pink and bronze. Old-timer rockhounds called these attractive specimens by that name. The wood was under water and encased in stromatolitic algae prior to the volcanic event that filled the water body with ash and began the petrification process. The mineralization of the algae in this specimen has the very desirable reddish orange and bronze coloration. The wood itself was the center of the polished face. Much of it has been macerated and no longer can be recognized as wood. However, the dark brown region does still retain hints of the characteristics we look for in petrified wood. Like all of the specimens we have ever seen from this locality, there is enough tracheid remnant to determine that it was a conifer. Maceration makes sense because the wood must have been under water for a long time for the large colonies of stromatolitic algae to grow. As a result, the specimens from Tonopah are generally valued more for their aesthetic appeal than for their wood anatomy. If you are also an algae enthusiast, the differentiation of mineralization (color) and form (some wide bands and some very narrow) make this an even more interesting specimen. The implication of these differences is that there were some substantial changes in the water chemistry and habitat during the growth of the algae over time. Most of the Tonopah Wood is pretty; this is exceptionally so. 5.5" x 3.5" on polished face; 3/4" thick slab $65 |
Primitive Conifer (Araucarioxylon arizonicum)
Chinle Formation, Triassic Twenty-Two Draw, Arizona ** Great things about this piece? Well to start, there is the lively name of the locality -- Twenty-Two Draw. Old west throwback! And then there is obviously the pink to orange to salmon color -- contrary to popular belief, not all Arizona wood from the Chinle looks like this. Another impressive feature? An impressive slash of agate decorating the center. This piece also has its manageable size as an asset as well – 5" diameter on the polished face -- and therefore easy to perch on a stand or shelf. The Twenty-Two draw area has produced really notable pink- and salmon-hued petrified wood in the mid 20th century with great patterns in white and gray, but it surely is commonplace on the market. We were delighted to be able to acquire this gorgeous slab with excellent polish. You will not be disappointed by this color! We work diligently to ensure that our colors are represented fairly in our photographs, and this one will not disappoint. 5” diameter on polished face; 5/16” thick slab $62 |
Ancient Redwood (Sequoia sp.)
Columbia Plateau Basalts Group Miocene Saddle Mountain, Washington ** An exceptional piece from Saddle Mountain with clear and crisp aesthetic growth rings and a really lavender pink eye-catching presence! This incredible display-quality specimen is further enhanced by the cavity which emanates from the center. This cavity is filled with bubbly white chalcedony over its entire surface. There are similar bubbles of chalcedony dripping off of the exterior rind of this slab as well! A truly outstanding piece. Got some Saddle Mountain wood in your collection? Here’s an opportunity to add an extraordinary piece! 10.5” x 5.5” on polished face; 1/2” thick slab $225 |
Oak (Quercus sp.)
Columbia Plateau Basalts Group, Miocene Deschutes Canyon, Oregon ** A VERY nice slab of oak from this legendary locality. The site was on top of the canyon walls about four miles upstream of the confluence of the Deschutes River and the Columbia River. In recent years, the ranchers who own the land on the sides of the canyon walls have closed their property to collecting. As a consequence, this especially nice material has now become much more difficult to obtain so we were pleased to find this one at one of the Oregon shows. This specimen has the nice characteristics that make Deschutes Canyon material desirable -- excellent eye appeal, nice sharp definition of medullary rays, great pattern enhanced by the rot pocket in the upper center. This one is destined for inclusion in someones display case! Click photo for a closer view ... and then don't let this one get away! 6.5" x 5.5" on polished face; 3/8" thick slab $149 |
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Limb Cast (Incertae sedis)
Tertiary Wiggins Fork of the Wind River, near Dubois, Fremont County, Wyoming ** What a nice small agate limb cast with a unique green tint. This piece also has nice external character. Much of the Wiggins Fork material comes directly out of the river bed but we were told by the collector that this one came out of sediments adjacent to the river. That helps to explain why the piece still retains its excellent woodlike character on the exterior surface - it has not been subjected to as much river water smoothing as a lot of the material we see. 3/8” diameter; limb section 3.5” long $26 |
