Rare, 9.2" Petrified Snakewood (Mennegoxylon) Slab - Texas

This is a rare, 9.2" petrified Snakewood (Mennegoxylon) slab from the Yugua Formation of Texas. It is polished to a matte finish on one side to highlight the unusual grain of this wood. This specimen has a repaired crack near the edge.

Snakewood (Mennegoxylon) is so named for the appearance of its cell structure. When viewed in cross section, it has the appearance of snake skin. It is an extinct genus of flowering plant from the same order (Caryophillales) as cactus, carnations, and beets.

Petrified wood is the name given to wood that has been turned into stone (fossilized) through the process of permineralization. In this process, all of the organic matter becomes replaced by minerals, while much of the original structure, such as tree rings, is retained. For this to happen, the wood needs to be buried in an environment low in oxygen to prevent decomposition and with flowing, mineral-laden water, so minerals may replace structures. The coloration is caused by various minerals that present in that water during fossilization. For example, red colors are due to iron compounds, greens due to copper, and so on.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Mennegoxylon sp.
AGE
LOCATION
Texas
FORMATION
Yugua Formation
SIZE
9.2 x 8.6 x .2"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#117119
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