Pentoxylon Australian Red Petrified Wood Fossil Jurassic Miles Formation Queensland

Description

Pentoxylon Australian Red Petrified Wood Fossil – Jurassic, Miles Formation, Queensland

This stunning Pentoxylon Australian Red Petrified Wood Fossil is a genuine Jurassic specimen from the Miles Formation, located in Queensland, Australia. Formed over 160 million years ago during the Jurassic Period, this exceptional piece represents one of the most scientifically important fossil woods from the ancient forests of the southern supercontinent Gondwana. With its rich red tones, fine cellular detail, and polished surface, this specimen is both a geological treasure and a captivating natural artwork.

Each piece is 100% authentic and naturally formed, supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming its provenance and geological age. The photograph shows the exact specimen you will receive, and the scale cube (1 cm) provides accurate sizing.

Geological and Stratigraphic Context

The Miles Formation, situated in Queensland, is part of a Jurassic sedimentary sequence that preserves a window into a world dominated by vast coniferous and cycad-like forests. During the Middle to Late Jurassic, this region of Gondwana experienced warm, humid conditions with seasonal rainfall that supported extensive vegetation.

Fossilisation occurred when ancient tree trunks were buried under sediment-rich floodplains and volcanic ash layers. Over millions of years, mineral-laden groundwater, rich in silica from volcanic activity, permeated the wood, replacing organic material cell by cell in a process known as permineralisation. This transformation converted the wood into solid quartz while preserving its original structure in incredible detail.

The vibrant red hues found in specimens from the Miles Formation are due to iron oxide minerals, which coloured the silica during petrification. These Jurassic deposits are globally admired for producing some of the most beautiful and scientifically valuable examples of petrified wood.

Taxonomy and Scientific Classification

• Fossil Type: Petrified Wood (Fossilised Tree Trunk)
• Scientific Name: Pentoxylon sp.
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Division: Gymnospermae
• Family: Pentoxylaceae
• Geological Stage: Jurassic Period
• Formation: Miles Formation
• Locality: Queensland, Australia

The genus Pentoxylon represents an extinct group of gymnospermous trees that flourished during the Jurassic. It is known for its distinctive polystelic structure, meaning the wood contained multiple vascular cylinders — a feature unique among fossilised plants of its age. This anatomy provided strength and flexibility, allowing Pentoxylon to thrive in dynamic environments subject to periodic flooding and volcanic activity.

Pentoxylon has been identified from fossil localities across Gondwana — including India, Antarctica, and Australia — linking these ancient landmasses through a shared paleobotanical heritage.

Morphological and Mineralogical Features

This Pentoxylon Petrified Wood Fossil exhibits exceptional preservation of internal structures and growth patterns. The specimen has been carefully polished to reveal the natural grain, showing a fascinating array of mineral colours, growth rings, and cellular detail.

Key features include:

• Rich red and ochre tones created by hematite (iron oxide) infusions within the quartz matrix.
• Visible growth rings indicating annual cycles of growth during the Jurassic climate.
• Fine cellular texture, revealing the structure of tracheids and rays under magnification.
• Chalcedony and jasper infill, producing a strong, glossy finish when polished.
• Hard quartz composition, making the specimen durable and visually striking.

These features combine to form a specimen that bridges natural science and art — a polished geological relic that once formed part of an ancient living forest.

Depositional Environment and Fossilisation Process

The fossilisation of Pentoxylon in the Miles Formation was a gradual and intricate geological process. During the Jurassic, this area was part of a vast riverine system on the edge of volcanic highlands. Trees fell or were buried by sediment after floods or volcanic eruptions, and groundwater saturated with silica, iron, and other minerals penetrated the plant tissues.

Through permineralisation, the original organic material was replaced at a microscopic level by cryptocrystalline quartz (chalcedony). This process preserved the internal anatomy of the wood, including vessels, growth bands, and cell walls. The result was a perfect mineral replica of the original tree, its structure immortalised in stone.

Over millions of years, tectonic uplift exposed these petrified logs to erosion, revealing the brilliantly coloured fossils found today in Queensland.

Scientific and Collectible Significance

Fossils of Pentoxylon are highly prized among collectors and paleobotanists for their rarity, vivid colouration, and exceptional preservation. Scientifically, they help document the evolution of early gymnospermous plants and the ecological dynamics of Gondwana’s Jurassic forests.

From a collector’s perspective, this Australian Red Petrified Wood is sought after for its striking natural colour palette — from deep crimson and burnt sienna to soft cream and amber tones — created entirely by mineral processes over millions of years. Each piece is unique, displaying the timeless beauty of ancient nature transformed through geological time.

Every specimen is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming it as a 100% genuine Jurassic fossil from the Miles Formation, Queensland, Australia. This magnificent Pentoxylon Red Petrified Wood Fossil is both a scientifically valuable specimen and a captivating display of Earth’s natural artistry — a tangible fragment of prehistoric forest life preserved for eternity.