Lexi Webster
Australia has a wide variety of petrified wood deposits spread across the country, with some specimens younger than 40 million years old and others over 200 million years old. Petrified wood, also known as fossilised wood, is formed when silica in solution fills the pores and cavities in submerged or sediment-buried timber, replacing the original wood with silica over time while preserving its shape and structural detail. A rare type of petrified wood called Pentoxylon can be found in the Chinchilla area, and the Chinchilla Historical Museum boasts one of the best collections of petrified wood in Australia. Other locations where petrified wood can be found include the Mehi Opal Fields in Angledool, Narran County, New South Wales, and the Lune River in the Huon Valley municipality of Tasmania.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Formation | Silica in solution fills the pores and cavities in submerged or sediment-buried timbers, gradually replacing the wood with silica |
| Composition | Mainly silica (quartz) |
| Hardness | 6-7 on the MOH's scale of hardness |
| Age | Petrified wood can vary significantly in age, with some being younger than 40 million years old, and others over 200 million years old |
| Locations | Mehi Opal Fields, Angledool, Narran Co., New South Wales; Lune River, Huon Valley municipality, Tasmania; Yowah opal field, Paroo Shire, Queensland |
| Uses | Ornamental stone, cabochons, jewellery, furniture pieces |
| Collections | The Chinchilla Historical Museum has one of the best collections of petrified wood in Australia; specimens are also available for purchase at the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre |
| Types | Pentoxylon, Tree fern, "Peanut wood", Pinus |
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What You'll Learn
Petrified wood in Tasmania
Petrified wood is a common material in gravel beds and ancient river channels in Tasmania, particularly in areas with basalt flows. The two main types of petrified wood are opalised and chalcedonic. In Tasmania, chalcedonic wood is much more common. This type of wood is found in places like Lune River, Swansea, Tunnel Marsh, Tunbridge, Weymouth, and many beaches around Hobart.
Opalised wood is also found in Tasmania, but only occasionally. Opalised Casuarina trees have been found in the Bushy Park / Macquarie Plains / Plenty area, buried under Tertiary volcanics. These included an entire tree, with twigs, branches, and the trunk still standing where it grew before it was buried.
Petrified wood is formed when silica in solution fills the pores and cavities in submerged or sediment-buried timbers. As the woody fibre gradually decomposes, more silica in solution takes its place until the original wood is replaced entirely by silica. Petrified wood is often cut into slices and polished as an ornamental stone for collectors, or fashioned into cabochons, jewellery, and furniture pieces.
The pebbles of petrified wood that are common on many Tasmanian beaches can be very colourful and often take a great polish. The Lune River fossicking area is one of the few sources of petrified fern (commonly, but incorrectly, described as manfern) in Tasmania. The material is derived from the weathering of some Jurassic lavas and sedimentary rocks and is thus of great geological significance.
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Pentoxylon in Chinchilla
Petrified wood is formed when silica in solution fills the pores and cavities in submerged or sediment-buried timbers. As the woody fibre gradually decomposes, more silica takes its place until the original wood is replaced entirely by silica. This process is known as fossilisation, and it preserves the original shape and structural detail of the wood. Petrified wood can vary significantly in age, with some being younger than 40 million years old, and others in excess of 200 million years old.
Chinchilla, a town in Queensland, Australia, is celebrated for its superior-quality petrified wood. The wood found in this region often boasts vibrant colours and exceptional preservation. Chinchilla petrified wood is regarded as being the best in Australia in terms of colour and quality. Lapidary enthusiasts from all over the world, as well as Australia, visit Chinchilla to procure specimens.
A rare type of petrified wood found in the Chinchilla area is called Pentoxylon. When cut across the grain, it exposes a design that resembles a heart with flower petals surrounded by small veins. Each petal and vein has its own growth rings when viewed through a microscope. Pentoxylon is thought to have been extinct for 100 million years, and traces of it are only found in Australia, South America, and India. It is highly prized among collectors.
The Chinchilla Historical Museum has one of the best collections of Pentoxylon petrified wood in Australia, and it can be viewed at most times. The Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre also has specimens of Pentoxylon petrified wood for sale at reasonable prices, which can be purchased any day from 9 am to 4 pm.
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Petrified wood in Queensland
Petrified wood is found in abundance across Australia, with deposits in all states. In Queensland, one of the best places to find petrified wood is in the Chinchilla district, where it is known as "Chinchilla Red" due to its unique colour and quality of preservation. The silica in the volcanic ash that covered the area during the Jurassic period gradually replaced the wood cells, resulting in the distinctive red colour of the petrified wood found in Chinchilla.
Chinchilla Red is highly prized among collectors, and the town is known for having one of the best and most abundant stocks of petrified wood in Australia. Visitors can purchase smaller pieces of petrified wood at the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre or buy a permit to fossick on local land for the chance to uncover their own specimens. The Chinchilla Historical Museum also has an impressive collection of petrified wood, known as the Fred Newman Collection, which can be viewed at most times.
Another place in Queensland where petrified wood can be found is the Yowah opal field in Paroo Shire. However, compared to Chinchilla, there seems to be less information available about collecting petrified wood from this location.
Petrified wood is formed when silica in solution fills the pores and cavities in submerged or sediment-buried timber. Over time, as the woody fibre decomposes, it is replaced by silica, preserving the original shape and structural detail of the wood. The process is known as fossilisation or petrification, and the resulting petrified wood is a type of quartz pseudomorph.
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Petrified wood in New South Wales
Petrified wood is a sought-after collector's item in Australia, where it can be as young as 40 million years old or exceed 200 million years in age. It is formed when silica in solution fills the pores and cavities in submerged or sediment-buried timber, gradually replacing the wood entirely with silica. This process, called fossilisation, preserves the original shape and structure of the wood, resulting in a unique and beautiful ornamental stone.
In New South Wales, petrified wood can be found in several locations. One notable site is the Mehi Opal Fields in Angledool, Narran County. This site is known for its abundance of opal and other minerals, including petrified wood. Baradine, in Baradine County, is another location within New South Wales where petrified wood has been found. Additionally, the Coocoran Opal Fields and the surrounding areas in Lightning Ridge, Finch County, are known for their petrified wood deposits.
Lightning Ridge, located in Finch County, New South Wales, is particularly renowned for its opal mining and fossilised wood deposits. The area has been a significant source of opal since the late 1800s, and the ridge's opal fields often yield petrified wood specimens. Lightning Ridge is a popular destination for fossickers and mineral enthusiasts alike, offering a unique insight into the region's geological history.
Aside from these specific sites, New South Wales offers a variety of locations for those interested in collecting or observing petrified wood. These include places such as Abercrombie, Albury, Armidale, Ballina, Barraba, Batemans Bay, Bathurst, and Batlow, to name just a few. Each of these locations provides its own unique geological context and natural environment, contributing to the diverse range of petrified wood specimens found across the state.
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Petrified wood for sale
Petrified wood, or fossilised wood, is a quartz pseudomorph that is formed when silica in the solution fills the pores and cavities in submerged or sediment-buried timber. This process is done in such a way that the original shape and structural detail of the wood is preserved. Petrified wood can be found in deposits across all states in Australia, with traces of the rare Pentoxylon variety being found in the Chinchilla area.
The Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre sells specimens of petrified wood at reasonable prices, and the Chinchilla Historical Museum also boasts an impressive collection.
Petrified wood is often cut into slices and polished as an ornamental stone for collectors, or fashioned into cabochons, jewellery, and furniture pieces. It is also available for purchase online from various retailers, such as FossilEra.com, eBay Australia, and Naturally Wild Australia. Prices for petrified wood vary depending on the size and quality of the specimen, ranging from under AU $55 to over AU $115 on eBay Australia, and from $59 to $1,495 on FossilEra.com.
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Frequently asked questions
Petrified wood can be found in deposits across all Australian states. Some specific locations include the Mehi Opal Fields in Angledool, Narran County, New South Wales, and the Lune River in the Huon Valley municipality, Tasmania.
The Chinchilla Historical Museum in Queensland is said to have one of the best collections of petrified wood in Australia. The museum's Fred Newman Collection can be viewed at most times, and the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre sells specimens at reasonable prices.
Petrified wood is often cut into slices and polished as ornamental stones for collectors. When cut across the grain, petrified wood from the Chinchilla area, known as Pentoxylon, exposes a design that resembles a heart with flower petals surrounded by small veins. Each vein and petal has its own growth rings when viewed through a microscope.
