About Our Petrified Wood

Unless otherwise noted, all the ancient wood you see on our web site is the evergreen conifer, Araucarioxylon arizonicum (Araucarian Pine). This, and other cone bearing evergreens of the time, are generically referred to simply as araucaria.

Araucarioxylon arizonicum is believed to be extinct*. Of all the ancient trees in the world‘s petrified forests, Araucarioxylon arizonicum is distinguished by having the greatest brilliance of color, particularly reds and yellows. It is also among the hardest, 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. This hardness allows it to be polished to the mirror finish that brings out its exquisite colors, shades, and tones. (For comparison, diamonds are 10 on the Mohs scale, rubies and sapphires are 9, granite is 7.)

Each piece of petrified wood is one-of-a-kind. Because of its uniqueness, versatility, and durability people who live in “petrified wood country” have been enjoying it in their homes and businesses in a myriad of décor styles. Some gem, mineral, and fossil shops carry small pieces. Small pieces are also available on the internet. Beyond this, to the best of our knowledge, it is not actively marketed. Businesses that carry large high quality and museum quality pieces are very rare.

*From what we understand, the botanists are still out on this…but, plant lovers might still take heart. Even after millions of years members of the araucaria family may be alive and well – and possibly even living in your home! Araucaria heterophylla is none other than the Norfolk Island Pine we see growing in homes and businesses today. Araucaria araucana is the Monkey Puzzle tree (Chilean Pine). There are still other possible ancient araucaria family members around the world which have their roots firmly set in semi-tropical and tropical soils.