

These defects can significantly decrease the value of a specimen that’s for sale, though many still have some worth as collector’s pieces regardless. Some pieces of petrified wood for sale may have cosmetic flaws, such as scuffs, scratches, chips, cracks, or breaks. Pieces of petrified wood that are put into exhibition settings or polished to a warm glowing sheen to show off the different patterns and colorations in the specimen better are usually priced higher than pieces of petrified wood that are sold raw. These precious stones greatly enhance the visual appeal of the petrified wood by giving it sparkle and causing it to change coloration under the light. Some pieces of petrified wood form with incorporated gemstones such as crystals or opals. This can lead to pieces of petrified wood that vary drastically from one another in coloration and visual appearance. One of the rare qualities of petrified wood is that each piece differs in coloration based on the types of minerals that formed during the wood’s mineralization process as well as different colorations in the tree itself. Larger pieces of petrified wood are more valuable than smaller pieces, mostly because the unique traits of the piece of petrified wood (such as stripes or other markings) are easier to observe in larger pieces.Ī particularly valuable size of petrified wood is a disc of petrified wood cut from an intact tree trunk-these pieces can weigh hundreds of pounds and be sold for thousands of dollars. Here are a few of the major categories that are used to grade petrified wood: Many different factors determine the worth of petrified wood. Factors that Determine the Worth of Petrified Wood Overall, petrified wood is not as valuable as many other precious gemstones, so it’s not the first material rockhounds look at for an investment mineral.īut because of its unique qualities and its one-of-a-kind appearance, a piece of petrified wood (or a dozen) can be an excellent addition to any collector’s collection. While more colorful or sparkly specimens are more likely to attract a higher asking price, they can often go for higher than their actual worth depending on the quality of the presentation by the vendor and the preferences of the buyer. Much of the value of petrified wood is also subjective. On the other hand, if you attend a rockhound convention, you may come across higher-quality petrified wood at a discount due to bulk acquisition by the vendors present. Small pieces of petrified wood can be found quite cheap in tourist traps near the Petrified Forest in Arizona, for instance, but many of these are not exhibition-grade pieces of petrified wood. Petrified wood can also range in value depending on where it is acquired.


Petrified wood can be found at prices ranging from $0.25 to $10.00 a pound, depending on a variety of factors that affect worth and quality. The first thing to know when it comes to pricing petrified wood is that petrified wood varies greatly in value. Individual shapes and colors vary but your item will resemble the pictured examples.If you are interested in checking out the best books about rocks and minerals identification you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link). The different minerals in groundwater are what give petrified wood its variety of colors. Eventually the wood is completely mineralized, often preserving minute structural detail. Over millions of years, water bearing silica trickles down through the sediment and the silica forms crystals in the cells and hollows of the wood. The petrification process occurs when wood becomes buried under sediment, such as volcanic ash (most petrified wood is associated with volcanic activity), and is preserved due to a lack of oxygen, inhibiting aerobic decomposition. This means that more-or-less all of the original organic materials have been replaced with minerals. Petrified wood is the result of a tree's trunk or limbs having turned into stone by the process of permineralization. They are a unique way to enhance your home's décor. They make great paperweights, and also look good displayed in groups on a coffee table or shelf. Our Petrified Wood is offered in chunks that nestle into the palm of your hand. Each has a flat base finished on the bottom with black felt to protect your furniture. These handsome blocks have been cut and polished to prominently display the colors, markings and patterns that are unique to each piece.
