One of the most frequent things we hear in the shop is: "I found this piece of wood on the beach, but it feels like a heavy rock!" Petrified wood is a fascinating bridge between the world of plants and the world of minerals. In British Columbia, we have some incredible deposits of this "stone-wood" that date back millions of years.
Petrified wood is a fossil that forms when a tree is buried by sediment or volcanic ash. Over millions of years, water rich in minerals (like silica) flows through the wood, replacing the organic plant matter with solid stone.
1. How to identify it on the beach
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The "Grain" Test: Look for the natural patterns of wood—growth rings, bark textures, and even knots. If it looks like wood but is too heavy to be a branch, pick it up!
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The "Clink" Test: Gently tap the piece against another rock. If it makes a "clink" sound like glass or ceramic rather than a dull "thud," you’ve found a petrified piece.
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The Colors: Depending on the minerals in the ground, BC petrified wood can be black, brown, creamy white, or even red.
2. Where does it come from in BC?
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The Interior: Areas like the Thompson River and the Okanagan are famous for high-quality petrified wood.
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Vancouver Island: While less common than the interior, we do find pieces washed up on our local beaches, often from ancient forests that were buried by volcanic activity millions of years ago.
3. Is it a Crystal or a Fossil?
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It’s Both: Petrified wood is a fossil because it’s the remains of an organism, but it’s also a crystal (usually Chalcedony or Agate) because the wood has been entirely replaced by minerals.
4. How we use it at Nanaimo Rock and Gem
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Display Slabs: We love cutting and polishing thin slices of petrified wood. When polished, the internal rings look like a piece of abstract art.
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Custom Bookends: Because it’s so heavy and durable, it’s the perfect material for high-end home accessories.
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Jewelry: We often find small "agatized" pieces of wood that we cut into unique pendants. It’s a great way to wear a piece of a 50-million-year-old forest.
🛠️ Pro-Tip for Collectors
If you find a piece and aren't sure if it's just "old wood" or "stone wood," look at the ends. If you can see the cellular structure or rings, but it doesn't scratch with a pocketknife, you’ve got a keeper.