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“Most petrified wood is available to collectors because
it is harder than the sedimentary rocks from which it

weathers, thereby leaving lag deposits on the ground
surface.”

Collecting petrified wood is relatively easy, as it
is readily available in many places throughout the
world. There are sites in the United States in the Rocky
Mountain region, in the southwest and southeast,
as well as the Pacific coastal states where many
good stones are plentiful. Petrified wood is present
virtually all around the world. Beautiful specimens
have been collected in Germany, The Czech Republic,
Hungary, Turkey, China, Mongolia, Indonesia,
Australia, Argentina, Madagascar, Mexico, Japan and
undoubtedly many more. Collecting in National Parks
and another designated areas is illegal, so make sure
to check your local laws. As you collect, take a serious
look at petrified wood as potential viewing-stone
material and you may be surprised.
Dr. Tom Elias published a hugely successful
book entitled, Viewing Stones of North America: A
Contemporary Perspective. A wonderful piece of
petrified wood graced the cover of the book. If you have
not yet given petrified wood a chance as a legitimate
and authentic viewing stone, you should think about
it. Go collect a piece rich in patina, great in shape and
watch how much you enjoy it. Perhaps common and
ordinary, but you are holding a natural piece of earth’s
history in your hands. Do not overlook this type of
stone. Petrified wood is a legitimate viewing stone,
that can add depth, beauty and artistic expression to
any stone collection.

Worthwhile References:
Ancient Forests a Closer Look at Fossil Wood, Frank
J. Daniels and Richard D. Dayvault, 2006, Western
Colorado Publishing Company, Grand Junction, CO.
Petrified Wood: The World of Fossilized Wood, Cones,
Ferns, and Cycads, Frank Daniels. 1998 Western
Colorado Publishing Company, Grand Junction, CO.
Stories in Stone, David B. Williams 2009 Walker Williams
Publishing Company, New York, NY.
Geology Underfoot in Yellowstone Country, Marc S.
Hendrix 2011 Mountain Press Publishing Company,
Missoula, Montana.
When Wood Turns to Stone, The Story of the Arizona
National Petrified Forest, K.S. Tankersley, 2014 Glendale,
AZ. Little John Publishing.

About the Author: Paul Gilbert is an avid and Figure 11: This figure stone has been wonderfully weathered with excellent patina. The
enthusiastic collector of stones! He loves to finding figure appears as an image of an emperor in a long flowing robe. Shown life-size, the
stones in Colorado and the Big Horn Mountains near stone measures 5 x 4 x 14 cm.
his home in Buffalo, Wyoming. He enjoys stones from
all around the world and has a respectable collection of
Japanese suiseki.

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