Petrified Wood  Group:

This grouping of Petrified Wood is found throughout the Mid Columbia River.

One of the most unusual fossil forests in the world is located at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. Over 200 species of trees have been identified in this area. The park is located in what was a region of lakes and swamps 15-20 million years ago. At one time the surrounding landscape was a flat lowland. The climate was warm and moist. Rivers that began in distant highlands flowed through nearby hills and eventually widened unto a large shallow lake. At the bottom of the lake lay logs and limbs, some from trees that had grown in or near the lake, others that were transported many kilometers by water. This peaceful scene did not last forever. As had happened before lava welled up through cracks in the earth's surface. The molten rock raced over the landscape destroying almost everything in its path. Tree logs which lay submerged at the bottom of the lakes were buried by lava and sealed in an undamaged condition. The once-molten lava hardened into rock called basalt. Logs and limbs that were on the lake bottom were entombed in the basalt Lack of oxygen halted decomposition.  Over thousands of years, the organic material of the wood was penetrated by silica-based mineral compounds from within the cooling lava. The silica replaced the cell structure of the wood so perfectly that the details of its structure are accurately preserved.

Raw Material	Lithic Scatter	Artifacts	Artifacts
	River Patina'd Wood
		Spoke-shave	Atlatl  Valley Knife
	River patina's  w/ fresh scaring

   If you wish to determine the type of Petrified wood you have, you may wish to contact estrauss@mashell.com.

Here is a link to his website Petrified Wood
 

Pictures by: Joel Castanza

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