FUNGUS INVADED 5 lb. Madagascar Petrified Wood Log Polished Sculpture!

Regular price $96.00

This is a fairly unique log with somewhat unusual preservation. The mineralization in this log is not 100% silica and has several zones with different mineral replacement of the wood that all combine to make a unique, antiquated looking cross section of a 200 million year old log!! If you study the wood grain closely, you will see that the outer region has several patterns within it that are in a radial, starburst sort of pattern that interrupts and replaces the wood grain. I'm fairly certain that this is a fungal invasion similar to what we see in some of the Arizona petrified wood specimens. They take a second look to spot, but they are definitely present and several of them are visible in the cut and polished face (the largest is at about 9 o'clock on the face). Under magnification you can easily see a pattern similar to the Arizona fungus invaded wood but it is actually crisper in this log. This is the only log like this that I have cut from Madagascar and I wasn't even aware of it until I had completely finished the specimens. It is just one more amazing example of how fascinating and surprising the study and observation of petrified wood can be! This attractive display piece features some very unusual colors including some subtle rusty peach hues appearing in the wood grain pattern. The polish gloss varies based on the hardness of the exposed face of this fascinating display specimen. The base and back are both cut smooth and flat while the arched rind is the naturally weathered husk of the petrified log. Even the exterior rind is really cool - it's much more interesting than the washed-out photo suggests! It is cut from some of the new wood I acquired in recent years from a new mine operating in the region and it has already provided several museum grade pieces like this! This piece is nicely prepared and ready to display in your home or office.

This gorgeous, absolutely choice petrified wood specimen is the latest in a series of really nice, very colorful logs that we've cut from some new material we obtained last year in Tucson. We were fortunate to be able to obtain several truly amazing logs that are cutting some of the nicest petrified wood I've had the pleasure of working with for many years.

In this case, I cut a larger sized, short log to produce some of the nicest Madagascar stand-up display specimens I've ever seen! When cut properly, an experienced lapidary can apply some of the craftsmanship I've learned over the years to avoid problems with flaked out fracture lines that are common in the imported specimens. I've also polished it to a much higher quality lustre than you find on the imported varieties. Even if you already have Madagascar wood in your collection, you owe it to yourself to see how nice these ancient treasures can be when properly prepared! This wood takes an extreme polish that looks just fabulous. It has a ton of detail and some of the nicest colors I've ever seen in petrified wood (and considering what we usually have on hand this is saying a lot). The camera struggles with lighter tones so some of the color in this piece is washed out, but it's a real beauty in person! The heart is clearly visible and nicely center in a piece with a wonderful overall shape. It's a striking Madagascar wood round sure to enhance any collection! .

It's just amazing how beautiful petrified wood can be and this fine specimen found halfway around the world shows to what lengths people will go to bring these treasures to market! If you don't own a top grade piece form this increasingly important deposit yet in your own collection, this is your chance.

This is a full round cross section cut from the center of a nice, collectible sized log. This stone has been professionally polished on a special lap that produces a flat face and a nice shine. The polish really is liquid perfect on the harder parts of the stone (and less glossy on the softer or mineralized areas) - a difference in the quality products Sticks-in-Stones has built its reputation on!

It measures about 6 5/8" tall and 7 1/8" wide across the mirror polished face. It's cut about 1 5/8" thick. It weighs about 5 lbs. A great candidate for a medium flat rate postal package.