Teredo Petrified Wood is wood that was bored by Teredo shipworms prior to the fossilization process, resulting in characteristic circular borings filled with sediment or minerals. Collectors prize these specimens for the intricate patterns created by the fossilized worm tunnels within the agatized wood matrix.
Is this teredo petrified 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 teredo petrified wood with a known reference. Teredo Petrified 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. Teredo Petrified Wood leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Teredo Petrified Wood typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, tan, gray, black, white.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: petrified wood segments.
Often confused with
Teredo Petrified Wood vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside teredo petrified wood
Minerals reported to co-occur with teredo petrified 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
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Petrified Wood Segments
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find teredo petrified wood
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Washington, USA
- Oregon, USA
- New Zealand
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary deposits country — that is the host setting where teredo petrified wood typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, chalcedony, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a petrified wood segments habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in North Dakota — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify teredo petrified wood?+
Where is teredo petrified wood found?+
Can I find teredo petrified wood in the United States?+
How much is teredo petrified wood worth?+
What rocks look like teredo petrified wood?+
What minerals are found with teredo petrified wood?+
What kind of rock does teredo petrified wood form in?+
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Find teredo petrified wood on the map
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