FINE PETRIFIED WOOD TABLE. ...

Description

FINE PETRIFIED WOOD TABLE
Araucarioxylon arizonicum
Triassic
Chinle formation, Arizona
This superb slab is from the world famous Petrified Forest area in North-Eastern Arizona: a locality just outside the National Park of that name. An ancient conifer, whose nearest living relative is - the Norfolk Island Pine, it has been named A. arizonicum and what was previously thought to have been one species is now believed to be three separate species. Unfortunately, distinguishing between them requires examination of the petrified wood 'cells' on a microscopic level, so A.arizonicum has informally remained in use. These fossils date back to over 200 million years ago, when Arizona was situated south of the equator as part of the Pangaea super continent. Out on the Pangaean plains, stream banks were constantly being undermined by surging rivers, toppling these giant trees into the floodwaters. Cataclysmic volcanic activity buried these conifers and associated hardwoods under massive layers of ash. The wood was entombed and its place in natural history secured, as silica-bearing groundwater slowly seeped into the fibers of the buried trees, replacing the organic material cell by cell while still preserving its fundamental structure. The Petrified Forest is world-famous for its beautiful wood, and this is an outstanding, vertical-cut specimen of that renowned material, with delightfully banded patterning in rich shades of red, yellow, green and tan, and a few rare streaks of black. There are even some sparkling pockets of Quartz crystals, in association with a large knot. The long edges retain a delightfully rough, bark-like texture, and have been left with the natural finish in contrast to the gleaming, highly polished top surface. A beautiful and unique piece of furniture, it is presented on a fine solid brass table stand with four tapering legs, and stands 16¾ inches high overall. 42½ x 22¼ x 1¾ inches (108 x 56.5 x 4.4 cm).

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