Indonesian Petrified Wood Sliver On Stand

About 3 million years ago, a dense tropical forest, made up of Magnolia and Palm trees, covered the Indonesian volcanic chain from Sumatra in Bali to the west of Java. Frequently (geologically speaking), regional volcanoes became active. The force of select eruptions was such that surrounding forests were uprooted—a thick layer of burning volcanic ash covering them.

The nearest trees were consumed; those covered too much by canopy rotted away. But those between these two extremes were the beneficiaries of ideal conditions, becoming naturally sterilized by the heat, which destroyed bacteria typically found in decay. The silica found in volcanic ash became dissolved and then embedded in the porous plant wood. The wood gradually replaced molecule by molecule, with minerals like quartz, agate, and marble, preserving the trees' shape at a cellular level. 

The result is a molecule by molecule substitution of original organic matter with new organic matter. A trunk of wood becomes a trunk of agate and quartz; the island's unique soil properties fusing with volcanic ash embedding specific colors in the trunk, a signature, if you will. What you end up with is not only a piece of history but a piece of geologic significance that tells a story of the tree's journey, its very life. 

Ash, water, and wood via natural alchemy transformed a living tree into a massive quartz gemstone. A signature piece for any home, any decor. 

This spectacular specimen measures are 13.5" wide, 4" deep and 12.5" high.