As you know, Jay uses a lot of Petrified Wood in his designs. You then also know that it’s not actually wood, but a type of fossil where all the trees organic materials have been replaced with minerals.Pretty cool, right?
The petrifaction process occurs underground when wood becomes buried under sediment and is initially preserved due to a lack of oxygen. Mineral-rich water flowing through the sediment replaces minerals in the plant's cells and as the plant's lignin and cellulose decay away, a stone mold forms in its place.Petrified wood can preserve the original structure of the wood in all its detail, down to the microscopic level. Structures such as tree rings and the various tissues are often observed features.
In general, this type of fossil takes less than 100 years to petrify. The organic matter needs to become petrified before it decomposes completely.Petrified wood can be found all over the world.Elements such as manganese, iron and copper in the mud during the petrification process give petrified wood a variety of color ranges. Pure quartz crystals are colorless, but when contaminants are added to the process the crystals take on a yellow, red, or other tint.
We think it’s one of the most special materials we use in our designs because the stone can take you on a visual adventure to the past.