Petrified Wood, wood that has been fossilized by being turned into stone. Petrifaction is a natural process that may form fossils from the solid remains of any plant or animal. However, it more commonly happens to wood than to animals and nonwoody plants. The process occurs when the substance soaks, over a long period of time, in water containing a mineral (or minerals). Gradually, the mineral either fills every pore and cavity of the organic matter, or the mineral-containing water dissolves the original organic material and replaces it with mineral matter. Eventually, the mineral forms a perfect copy of the original substance, including cell structure and fibers. The replacement mineral is usually a variety of quartz, ordinarily of the chalcedony type. Sometimes it is opal, calcite (calcium carbonate), or carnotite, a source of uranium. Petrified wood usually is very hard. It may be beautifully colored by chemical impurities such as iron and copper. Cut and polished petrified wood is used for jewelry, paperweights, and lamp bases. The rate of petrifaction is not exactly known. In some cases it may be fairly rapid. For example, mine timbers have been partly petrified after a few years' exposure to mineral-laden water. You can find all the answers at the site. '
The Karoo Supergroup
The Karoo Supergroup - a cross section
- What is the length of the tree?
- What is the estimated age of the tree?
- What kind of tree is this?
- What do you estimate the diameter of the tree to be?
- What part of the Karoo supergroup do you think this was deposited in (clue: it was found near Harrismith)?
- There is a monument nearby, on it is a list of British soldiers who died in the Boer War. What is the last name on the bottom on the side closest to the Town Hall?
- Optional - Take a picture of yourself with the tree visible in the photo.
- Email answers to the cache owner to qualify your find.