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Photographer: James King
Taken: May 18, 2016
Caption: A Story of Petrification
Additional Description: Trees do not "turn to stone" in the literal sense of the word. Many years ago a forest grew here. It was covered by ashes and mud from an active volcano. Water seeped down through this dust, carrying volcanic ash. Gradually the wood was replaced by the silica, in many cases cell for cell. So perfectly was this accomplished that very thin sections of the petrified wood can be studied microscopically and their structure determined. This process of petrification took a long time and gradually the mud and ash deposited ages ago were eroded away.
Submitted: February 25, 2017, by James King of San Miguel, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p375735
File Size: 4.860 Megabytes

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