Ancient Uses to the 21st Century

Between 6000 BC and 1450 AD petrified wood was used by Native American people. Known uses include arrow heads and small structures.

When the railroad went through the northern Arizona region in 1880, ancient logs still lay strewn over the ground as the natural result of uplifting and erosion. Consequently many more people “discovered” the ancient silicified wood. Some of them also discovered it had a place in manufacturing. Armstrong Abrasives planned to build a stamping mill to crush the wood and ship it to Chicago to make grindstones and emerywheels. Fortunately they were stopped.

Chemically, ancient wood is silicon dioxide and quartz is a form of this. Therefore, it is not unusual for veins of gemstones such as amethyst, citrine, quartz crystals, rose quartz, chalcedony, agate, carnelian, even opal to appear in ancient wood. For this reason more of the petrified wood was dynamited by gemstone hunters seeking gem quality crystals.

The destruction and removal of the ancient wood was what brought about the creation of The Petrified Forest National Park, where collecting is NOT allowed. It also necessitated the regulation of collecting petrified wood on other government owned land. Happily we learned to appreciate and value the beauty of this unique national treasure and protect it before it was too late.