Petrified Wood in the Gemstone LibraryPetrified Wood







Name Origin: From the Greek root "petro" meaning "rock" or "stone", literally "wood turned into stone" is a type of fossil: it consists of fossil wood where all the organic materials have been replaced with minerals (most often a silicate, such as quartz), while retaining the original structure of the wood. The petrifaction process occurs underground, when wood becomes buried under sediment and is initially preserved due to a lack of oxygen.

Historical significance/folklore: Speaking of his fascination with petrified wood, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), once said: “These depths are now so high that they have become mountains, and the rivers that wear away the sides of these mountains lay bare the layers of these fossils.”

Gemstone properties: Petrified wood can assist anyone who is feeling stuck or experiencing being frozen in time. It helps to create balance and offers a foundation from which to launch new goals or undertake a different path. Petrified wood is also a wonderful grounding stone. It helps calm scattered energies. It is a stone of business success. Petrified wood is also used for past life regressions because of its inherent link with the past.

Healing properties: It is beneficial for the bones, backaches, skin and hair.