*NOTE: THIS FOSSIL COMES WITH A GIFT BOX, AN ENGRAVED BASE, AN INFORMATION CARD, AND AN INTERNATIONAL AUTHENTICITY CERTIFICATE.
DESCRIPTION
This is a 10.9cm wide, richly colored petrified wood (Araucaria) limb section from Ambilobe, Madagascar. Araucaria is a coniferous tree in the family that includes the modern Monkey Puzzle tree. This 220 million year old petrified wood section has been polished on one end.
Fossils of wood (called Petrified Wood) formation happens when the organic matter is replaced by minerals, whilst preserving much of the original structure. For this to happen the wood needs to be buried in a place where there is very little oxygen (to prevent decomposition) and with flowing mineral water. During this process, the wood becomes harder and turns into a substance similar to stone. The coloration is due to the various minerals that are present during fossilization. For example red colors are due to iron compounds, greens due to copper, etc.
