In a message dated 3/1/99 2:01:08 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> How does petrified wood form?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------
>
> Petrified wood is wood that has turned to stone? Often it
> shows beautiful colors that were not present in the original
> wood. How does wood turn to stone?
>
> When wood dies it begins decaying immediately. To become
> petrified it must be quickly covered by a layer of volcanic
> ash, mud, or other material that excludes oxygen, thus
> preventing it from decaying.
>
> If conditions are right, the organic part of the wood
> dissolves slowly, and at the same time minerals replace the
> organic matter, duplicating its structure exactly. The
> mineral replacement can be silica, calcite, pyrite, or
> marcasite.
>
> The colors are caused by impurities in the replacing
> mineral. The most common impurity is iron, which causes
> red, orange, or yellow colors. Manganese or copper can
> cause blue, black, or green colors.
>
> _______
I just thought it got really scared and turned into a rock. :-)
Silly, me huh?
Mike Burke
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