Petrified wood and Rockhounding

[Alchase]

One of my favorites that sits next to my door. Boring color but crystals running throughout.

That is awesome!

[Alchase]

This is a rough agate from Red Top my six year old son found! He lost his mind after finding this one and is clearly hooked on rock hounding now. He wants to have someone slice it for him.

Incredible, love the light coming through.

[kellama2001]

Tagging along, this is a cool thread! I've found some bland pieces of p-wood while exploring,  but nothing like what you all have posted. Would a regular wet tile saw cut these?

[LDennis24]

Yeah a wet tile saw will cut them. Those are actually some cool pieces. That white with the bark grain is really neat.

[kellama2001]

Yeah a wet tile saw will cut them. Those are actually some cool pieces. That white with the bark grain is really neat.

Great, thank you! We have a decent size saw for our construction company. If anyone needs something cut, I'd be happy to share our tile saw, just pm me.

[LDennis24]

Sorry for the delay but here's a chunk of the striped stuff I found. It was frozen to the ground. It's pretty cool looking. So my question for anyone who might know is... What determines the color of the petrified wood? How did this piece become striped like it is?

[Iveexcaped3]

Sorry for the delay but here's a chunk of the striped stuff I found. It was frozen to the ground. It's pretty cool looking. So my question for anyone who might know is... What determines the color of the petrified wood? How did this piece become striped like it is?

Just a guess but I’d think it’s what minerals are in the ground, species of wood, how long it’s been there. You can get petrified wood in 2 years with the right conditions. Stuff around yakima….. definitely older than 2 years.

[boneaddict]

Color is determined by what minerals are in the ground.  Silica content,  the agate
I imagine temperature and time determine some of the other qualities.  Some of the stuff I learned this spring was of petrfied bog material.  Think of the bottom of a pond. Enough organic to convert.  The layers resemble rings of a tree.  But it’s cool finding sticks and stuff mixed in with the petrified mud.

[LDennis24]

Color is determined by what minerals are in the ground.  Silica content,  the agate
I imagine temperature and time determine some of the other qualities.  Some of the stuff I learned this spring was of petrfied bog material.  Think of the bottom of a pond. Enough organic to convert.  The layers resemble rings of a tree.  But it’s cool finding sticks and stuff mixed in with the petrified mud.

Thank you guys, I know the process and the content but how do the stripes become different colors? Possibly dependent on the wood type? Is it easier for the silicates they between layers on some wood species suck as the striped piece? Also Bone, the location I gave you has the bog material all over as well. I have some neat small branches boxed up somewhere I collected.

[LDennis24]

Also my grandfather had a partial petrified buffalo skull he found in a bog area in Montana near the Bighorn River.

[Alchase]

What a cool thread!

I was laying flagstone on Sunday, a large flake, flaked off and there was a petrified clamshell about 4” in diameter in a $6 flagstone from Home Depot!
How cool is that, 
I was tempted to break out the tile saw and cut it out. Of course in my hurry to get the work done, I forgot to get a picture.
I will get a picture as soon.

Pic added

[Machias]

I found several pieces of petrified wood in the desert of Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Storm.  Have to see if I can find them and get a couple of photos.

[TrkyBob53]

Back in the mid 60's and early 70's, I went with my father and a friend and dug petrified wood.  Yakima canyon, Boylston area, and the Mattawa area we dug Picture wood I believe.  Dug thunder eggs we called them from Redtop.  Went to Montana for some kind of agates, cant  remember what those were called.  My dad will be moving soon and has been parting with the rocks he has acquired over the years.  I would say he has or had at least a couple of tons of all kinds of rocks and wood.  Does anyone know if there is any value in them?  He has one piece of wood that he thinks weighs about 400 pounds. 

[LDennis24]

Yes there is value in them. You have to find the right buyer is all. Maybe inquire at the First Creek rock and gem shop North of Ellensburg.

[boneaddict]

Be very careful about selling P wood.  There are a ton of regulations on it depending on where it was collected etc.  Washington state in particular.  I have no idea who enforces it. Just warning you to be careful.