Post by Peruano on Sept 25, 2013 12:04:31 GMT -5
I recently started working a new site in Central New Mexico and have produced a few types of wood totally distinct from what I typically found in the nearby Rio Puerco.
1. A fairly light fibrous petrified wood (predominantly white and fibrous with opalized rind in outer margins of the specimens)
Here are a few photos of the spectrum of specimens so far.
A broken branch
Here's an example of one of the stems slabbed off and polished.
In pursuing more of this opalized wood, I started picking up palm-like specimens in a claylike matrix (super soft and slick when wet by recent rains). The outer white clay is soft but the inner part is darker and seems to be harder.
Edit: I originally interpreted the dotted appearance of the following as being palm surrounded by the claylike matrix. I have subsequently concluded that these are some sort of concretion or noddule of mud with dendritic like structure, but probably have nothing to do with palm woood. Shame on me for jumping to the conclusion without investigating further. I leave these photos and these comments to guide others that might be tempted to jump to the same conclusion (erroneous that I did).
Here are a few specimens.
Curious as to how soft and how pretty this stuff would be when cut, I peered inside.
the latter may be virtual slabs as they are too soft to polish, and I'm even unsure what they will look like when dry, but clearly the dendritic like patterns are all the way through the central structure and not just on the surface.
All of this is so distinct from the most common sorts of pet wood we find nearby and so rarely at this site. Clearly we are talking about a riverine deposit of a different age and or source.
Here are a couple of the more typical stuff found hereabouts.
And this one from the previous locality but with some apparent color.
I have now cut this last piece and it is wonderfully patterned internally. A photo added here just to show potential.
Wood is wonderful. Tom
1. A fairly light fibrous petrified wood (predominantly white and fibrous with opalized rind in outer margins of the specimens)
Here are a few photos of the spectrum of specimens so far.
A broken branch
Here's an example of one of the stems slabbed off and polished.
In pursuing more of this opalized wood, I started picking up palm-like specimens in a claylike matrix (super soft and slick when wet by recent rains). The outer white clay is soft but the inner part is darker and seems to be harder.
Edit: I originally interpreted the dotted appearance of the following as being palm surrounded by the claylike matrix. I have subsequently concluded that these are some sort of concretion or noddule of mud with dendritic like structure, but probably have nothing to do with palm woood. Shame on me for jumping to the conclusion without investigating further. I leave these photos and these comments to guide others that might be tempted to jump to the same conclusion (erroneous that I did).
Here are a few specimens.
Curious as to how soft and how pretty this stuff would be when cut, I peered inside.
the latter may be virtual slabs as they are too soft to polish, and I'm even unsure what they will look like when dry, but clearly the dendritic like patterns are all the way through the central structure and not just on the surface.
All of this is so distinct from the most common sorts of pet wood we find nearby and so rarely at this site. Clearly we are talking about a riverine deposit of a different age and or source.
Here are a couple of the more typical stuff found hereabouts.
And this one from the previous locality but with some apparent color.
I have now cut this last piece and it is wonderfully patterned internally. A photo added here just to show potential.
Wood is wonderful. Tom