SiS: BIG DARK RED 12 " African Rhexoxylon Petrified Wood Round - RARE & ANCIENT
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:44327742 |
Want something truly unique and absolutely gorgeous in your petrified wood collection or fossil cabinet? This extra large slab is sure to be that, and a lot more! This is a mostly complete cross section slab from the trunk of a Rhexoxylon from Southern Africa. It takes some study with a magnifying loupe to make out the structure in this dark but colorful slab, but the growth structure unique to these rare fossils is indeed there. What th...is one lacks in clarity it makes up for in color! I wasn't sure if this was an oddly colored log or if it might be Rhexoxylon when I purchased it from my Zimbabwe supplier several years ago. Once I finally had time to prepare a slab and study it closely I found the opposing arcs of the telltale growth structure waiting to tell their story. It's one of the rarest of the fossil plants we've had the privilege of working with and this one represents a particularly nice and colorful example of the species. By far one of the most pleasingly colored Rhex specimens I've ever polished, this large slab is truly a collector piece. We've lapped and polished it to a mirror perfect finish to coax every bit of that color and fossil detail from the stone to produce a true museum or showcase specimen!This unusual looking specimen is a Rhexoxylon. It was thought to be a vine like plant with a woody trunk. It's very old (from the Molteno Formation -- Mid-Late Triassic). This one has very nice cell structure in the unusual formations that make up the pattern within the trunk cross section. The large hollow center is characteristic of the species though many (like this one) are filled with debris before becoming petrified which only helped obscure the identify of this fossil all the more. These fossils are particularly rare and good solid agatized ones like this are a special treat for petrified wood collectors, particularly if they are colorful. The wood has a very high silica content so we're able to coax a really nice polish out of the specimen. Based on the several slabs I cut from this log I believe these are incomplete rounds from an even larger plant. This log came to me in a larger purchase of Rhex and Woodworthia fossil logs several years ago. I hand picked the best specimens from the lot and then prepared them in my shop to produce true collector grade specimens. If the timeless mystery of this piece isn't enough for you, then I'm certain the simple, natural, gemmy beauty of it will be. The colors are high contrast and the wood grain is unique to this exotic species. This round is cut from the center of a very solid log. It's really a nice piece, but what else would you expect from a business named "Sticks-in-Stones"?! We've applied all of our considerable lapidary skills to bring out a mirror finish and produce a specimen worthy of display in your own collection. This nice large piece measures about 11 5/8" x 7" across the polished face and is cut about 0.52" thick. Weight is 2.92 lbs. Stands sold separately. Sticks-in-Stones Lapidary is happily providing UPS & USPS shipping to greatly reduce shipping charges on large rock orders. We will combine all of your purchases from our shop to bring you the greatest possible value in fine Lapidary & stone collectibles!
