Petrified Palm Wood is a fossilized wood created when organic plant matter is replaced by silica, preserving the unique vascular structure of palm trees. Collectors prize specimens for their distinct 'starburst' or 'dot' patterns visible in cross-sections, which represent the original palm fiber bundles. It is a favorite for lapidary enthusiasts due to its ability to take a high polish.
Is this petrified 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 petrified palm wood with a known reference. Petrified 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. Petrified Palm Wood leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Petrified Palm Wood typically shows a vitreous to waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tan, brown, black, red, white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Petrified 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 Petrified Palm Wood and vitreous on Wood Opal.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Petrified Palm Wood and waxy on Flint Nodules.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Petrified Palm Wood and waxy on Agate.
Often found alongside petrified palm wood
Minerals reported to co-occur with petrified 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
- 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Deposits
- Typical price
- $5-50 for slabs, $20-200 for polished specimens
Where rockhounds find petrified palm wood
8 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Louisiana, USA
- Texas, USA
- Arizona, USA
- Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary deposits country — that is the host setting where petrified palm wood typically forms. If you start seeing chalcedony, quartz, jasper 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, Louisiana, Mississippi — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify petrified palm wood?+
Where is petrified palm wood found?+
Can I find petrified palm wood in the United States?+
How much is petrified palm wood worth?+
What rocks look like petrified palm wood?+
What minerals are found with petrified palm wood?+
What kind of rock does petrified palm wood form in?+
What is petrified palm wood used for?+
Find petrified palm wood on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
