Petrified wood found in the park and the surrounding region is made up of almost solid quartz. Each piece is like a giant crystal, often sparkling in the sunlight as if covered by glitter. The rainbow of colors is produced by impurities in the quartz, such as iron, carbon, and manganese.
Over 200 million years ago, the logs washed into an ancient river system and were buried quick enough and deep enough by massive amounts of sediment and debris also carried in the water, that oxygen was cut off and decay slowed to a process that would now take centuries.
Minerals, including silica dissolved from volcanic ash, absorbed into the porous wood over hundreds and thousands of years crystallized within the cellular structure, replacing the organic material as it broke down over time. Sometimes crushing or decay left cracks in the logs. Here large jewel-like crystals of clear quartz, purple amethyst, yellow citrine, and smoky quartz formed.
The Petrified Forest was set aside as a national monument in 1906 to preserve and protect the petrified wood for its scientific value. It is recognized today for having so much more, including a broad representation of the Late Triassic paleo-ecosystem, significant human history, clear night skies, fragile grasslands ecosystem, and unspoiled scenic vistas.
Scientific studies are on-going at the park. Paleontologists find new fossils, including new species of plants and animals, each year. Biologists study living plants and animals, including vegetation surveys and reptile, amphibian, and mammal projects. Air quality, weather, and seismic monitoring stations constantly generate new data.
Here a plateau is dotted with several examples of the petrified wood that has now become condensed, very heavy quartzlike stone.
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| An explanation of the Triassic Landscape (again, small print but readable). |
The Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert join together to make up two distinct, yet interlaced natural wonders in the same region of Northeast Arizona. It took tens of millions of years to dot the landscape with the desert art we now call the 'painted desert'....and it took a similar amount of time to bury large pine trees and isolate them from the very things they needed to even decay, let alone live....and to transform them into the beautiful "chunks of petrification" we enjoy in the park today.
As we visit the National Parks on this trip it is clear to us that they need to be preserved for future genterations.....yes, money is tight everwhere in government these days....but these natural wonders must be protected and preserved so others can come and experience the history and beauty and the spirituality that we have experienced.
Today is our last day in Williams, AZ. Tomorrow we point the bus in the direction of Las Vegas, some 3 1/2 hours north and west of here; where we will set up in yet another RV campground. And Thursday PM of next week Pam's cousin John Currah and his wife, Alison, fly in from Cornwall, England to join us for two weeks of visiting the American West. We can't wait to see them and to experience much of the vast beauty theWest has to offer....to include the Grand Canyon. Pam, like her cousins, has not seen the Grand Canyon.....and Amy Remick will be joining us for week #2 of our adventures.....so we are off today to give Pam her first glimpse of what is truly one of nature's great wonders.....the Grand Canyon. See you next week.....John and Alison....safe travels.
In closing the blog....here are a few more photos of the Painted Desert....
