Stone Rings of an Ancient Forest

Rich bands of rust, cream, amber, and gray reveal the intricate mineral patterns within a massive piece of petrified wood at Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. Once part of a living tree more than 200 million years ago, its organic structure was gradually replaced by minerals, preserving the grain and growth patterns in stone. This close view highlights the remarkable colors, fractures, and textures that make each piece of petrified wood a unique record of the prehistoric landscape.
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