Agatized palm wood is a type of petrified wood where the original organic cellular structure has been replaced by microcrystalline quartz. Collectors prize it for the distinct dot-like or fibrous patterns visible in cross-sections, which are remnants of the vascular bundles of the palm tree.
Is this agatized palm wood?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch agatized palm wood with a known reference. Agatized Palm Wood sits at Mohs 6.5-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Agatized Palm Wood leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Agatized Palm Wood typically shows a vitreous to waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, tan, gray, black, white, red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Agatized Palm Wood vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Agatized Palm Wood and vitreous on Wood Opal.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Agatized Palm Wood and waxy on Jasper.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Agatized Palm Wood and waxy on Flint Nodules.
Often found alongside agatized palm wood
Minerals reported to co-occur with agatized palm wood. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7
- Density
- 2.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Strata
- Typical price
- $10-100 per piece
Where rockhounds find agatized palm wood
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Gulf Coast USA
- Indonesia
- Texas
- Louisiana
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary strata country — that is the host setting where agatized palm wood typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, chalcedony, opal in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Texas — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find agatized palm wood on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
