The facts
What fossil Palm Wood actually is
Mineralogically, fossil Palm Wood is silicified fossil palm stem — SiO₂ replacing plant tissue, crystallising in the cryptocrystalline aggregate system.
The colour is caused by iron and manganese oxides give brown, red and black; the diagnostic feature is the rod-like pattern of silicified vascular bundles, which palms have scattered through the stem rather than in rings. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.53–1.54 (spot), and the specific gravity sits near 2.5–2.7; cleavage is none.
Where fossil Palm Wood comes from
The recognised sources are Catahoula Formation, Louisiana, USA, Live Oak County, Texas, USA and Wallis, Texas, USA.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How fossil Palm Wood is treated
Untreated; hard silicified material takes a mirror polish directly. Distinguished from ordinary petrified wood by the dots and rods rather than growth rings — palms are monocots and have no annual rings.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What fossil Palm Wood is confused with
The usual confusions are Petrified wood, Peanut wood, Jasper and Agatized coral.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.53–1.54 (spot) and specific gravity 2.5–2.7 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What fossil Palm Wood is used for
Fossil Palm Wood is bought by jewellery, mineral collecting, decorative objects and architecture and interiors — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What fossil Palm Wood costs
Indicative pricing for fossil Palm Wood is Rough 10–60 USD/kg; polished slabs 30–300 USD.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is fossil Palm Wood treated, and how?
Untreated; hard silicified material takes a mirror polish directly. Distinguished from ordinary petrified wood by the dots and rods rather than growth rings — palms are monocots and have no annual rings.
Where does fossil Palm Wood come from?
Catahoula Formation, Louisiana, USA, Live Oak County, Texas, USA and Wallis, Texas, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is fossil Palm Wood hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does fossil Palm Wood cost?
Indicatively Rough 10–60 USD/kg; polished slabs 30–300 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is fossil Palm Wood confused with?
Most often Petrified wood, Peanut wood, Jasper and Agatized coral. A refractive index of 1.53–1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.5–2.7 separate it quickly.
What is fossil Palm Wood used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, decorative objects and architecture and interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for fossil palm wood?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about fossil palm wood