Item Number
290
Type
image
Description
Pepper Tree
Size
17x14
Age
Eocene (56 million to 33.9 million years ago)
SciId
Schinoxylon
Status
in inventory
Display/Storage
Display
Building
Zuhl Museum
Original Site
Wyoming
Date Acquired
2001
Source
Wohlgemuth - Oregon
Gallery/Room\Floor
Petrified Wood Gallery
Notes
Wyoming is a state rich in fossil wood and has several petrified forests. The petrified wood from one forest is known to collectors as Eden Valley Petrified Wood and is named after the town of Eden, Wyoming. Eden is located in the west-central part of the state and is in the center of the 80 mile long area where the fossil wood is found. Three collecting areas are well known. The Blue Forest collecting area is located in the west end of the deposit about 30 miles west of Farson. The fossil wood found in this area is known for the light blue agate surrounding many of the pieces.Eden Valley Petrified Wood was formed from plants living about 50 million years ago and the rock exhibits features not found in fossil wood anywhere else in the world. The petrifaction process for this area involved shallow algae growing lakes. In many cases, for undetermined reasons, the wood came to be in this water in its live condition before it had a chance to dry out and look like old dead wood. This wood became coated with algae which adhered to the surface making a cast or mold around the wood. Later the wood dried and shrunk in the mold made of algae. Over time these algae casts became part of a layered rock formation. Silica-rich water solutions seeping through the rock then petrified the wood and filled in the spaces left between the dried wood and the hardened cast with agate, calcite, and quartz.
Preview
Description
Wyoming is a state rich in fossil wood and has several petrified forests. The petrified wood from one forest is known to collectors as Eden Valley Petrified Wood and is named after the town of Eden, Wyoming. Eden is located in the west-central part of the state and is in the center of the 80 mile long area where the fossil wood is found. Three collecting areas are well known. The Blue Forest collecting area is located in the west end of the deposit about 30 miles west of Farson. The fossil wood found in this area is known for the light blue agate surrounding many of the pieces.Eden Valley Petrified Wood was formed from plants living about 50 million years ago and the rock exhibits features not found in fossil wood anywhere else in the world. The petrifaction process for this area involved shallow algae growing lakes. In many cases, for undetermined reasons, the wood came to be in this water in its live condition before it had a chance to dry out and look like old dead wood. This wood became coated with algae which adhered to the surface making a cast or mold around the wood. Later the wood dried and shrunk in the mold made of algae. Over time these algae casts became part of a layered rock formation. Silica-rich water solutions seeping through the rock then petrified the wood and filled in the spaces left between the dried wood and the hardened cast with agate, calcite, and quartz. 13x7x6
Keywords
Pepper Tree Wyoming is a state rich in fossil wood and has several petrified forests. The petrified wood from one forest is known to collectors as Eden Valley Petrified Wood and is named after the town of Eden, Wyoming. Eden is located in the west-central part of the state and is in the center of the 80 mile long area where the fossil wood is found. Three collecting areas are well known. The Blue Forest collecting area is located in the west end of the deposit about 30 miles west of Farson. The fossil wood found in this area is known for the light blue agate surrounding many of the pieces.Eden Valley Petrified Wood was formed from plants living about 50 million years ago and the rock exhibits features not found in fossil wood anywhere else in the world. The petrifaction process for this area involved shallow algae growing lakes. In many cases, for undetermined reasons, the wood came to be in this water in its live condition before it had a chance to dry out and look like old dead wood. This wood became coated with algae which adhered to the surface making a cast or mold around the wood. Later the wood dried and shrunk in the mold made of algae. Over time these algae casts became part of a layered rock formation. Silica-rich water solutions seeping through the rock then petrified the wood and filled in the spaces left between the dried wood and the hardened cast with agate, calcite, and quartz. 2001 Eocene (56 million to 33.9 million years ago) Log
Keywords
Pepper Tree Wyoming is a state rich in fossil wood and has several petrified forests. The petrified wood from one forest is known to collectors as Eden Valley Petrified Wood and is named after the town of Eden, Wyoming. Eden is located in the west-central part of the state and is in the center of the 80 mile long area where the fossil wood is found. Three collecting areas are well known. The Blue Forest collecting area is located in the west end of the deposit about 30 miles west of Farson. The fossil wood found in this area is known for the light blue agate surrounding many of the pieces.Eden Valley Petrified Wood was formed from plants living about 50 million years ago and the rock exhibits features not found in fossil wood anywhere else in the world. The petrifaction process for this area involved shallow algae growing lakes. In many cases, for undetermined reasons, the wood came to be in this water in its live condition before it had a chance to dry out and look like old dead wood. This wood became coated with algae which adhered to the surface making a cast or mold around the wood. Later the wood dried and shrunk in the mold made of algae. Over time these algae casts became part of a layered rock formation. Silica-rich water solutions seeping through the rock then petrified the wood and filled in the spaces left between the dried wood and the hardened cast with agate, calcite, and quartz. 2001 Eocene (56 million to 33.9 million years ago) Log