225-MillionYear-Old Petrified Opal Tree Trunk
Eruptions from nearby volcanoes blanketed the area in volcanic ash, which introduced silica into the groundwater
Eventually all the plant substance is replaced by the minerals, like pyrite (“Fools’ Gold,” as it is commonly known) and Silica. The latter material crystallized, and morphed, eventually, into quartz. Over time, and with the addition of other minerals, the wood’s interiors became a rainbow of colours that are strikingly beautiful.
This national park is, experts say, probably the largest and most-visited petrified forest in the world. It continues to offer experts and casual visitors alike a stunning array of visual delights, and it is a great place to see, up close and personal, what the landscape of Arizona once looked like, and what its vegetation was like.
Eventually all the plant substance is replaced by the minerals, like pyrite (“Fools’ Gold,” as it is commonly known) and Silica. The latter material crystallized, and morphed, eventually, into quartz. Over time, and with the addition of other minerals, the wood’s interiors became a rainbow of colours that are strikingly beautiful.
This national park is, experts say, probably the largest and most-visited petrified forest in the world. It continues to offer experts and casual visitors alike a stunning array of visual delights, and it is a great place to see, up close and personal, what the landscape of Arizona once looked like, and what its vegetation was like.
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21 July 2023
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