Skip to content
Geology Specimen, Fossilised Wood

Geology Specimen, Fossilised Wood

Shared by
Wyndham and District Historical Museum

Wood fossilises when logs are buried by volcanic mud, and the organic material gradually gets replaced by silica. The most well-known location of petrified wood in the Southland and Otago region is near Curio Bay in the Catlins, however there have been instances where fossilised wood has been found in and around the Mataura River. This is thought to be a byproduct of the processes that created the coal and lignite that the Mataura Valley is known for, or an earlier forest buried in the Hokonui hills. If part of the lignite strata, this specimen is approximately 10-15 million years old. However, if the specimen originated from the Hokonuis, it could be as much as 200 million years old which is a similar age to the petrified forest at Curio Bay.

Ngā whakamārama -
Details

Kei hea tēnei taonga? -
Where is this item held?

  • Additional information including high resolution images may be available.

  • Location

    31 Balaclava Street, Wyndham

Wyndham and District Historical Museum

Whare taonga | Organisation

Wyndham and District Historical Museum

Ngā here ki runga i ngā whakaahua o tēnei taonga? -
What can you do with images of this item?

  • You must check with Wyndham and District Historical Museum to confirm terms of use and any attribution requirements, but this is our understanding:

  • Use for private study, research, criticism, review, or education

    NZ Copyright law allows for the use of copyrighted works in specific circumstances. Consider what you can do under copyright law.

  • Share

    You can share this image without further permission.

  • Modify or remix

    You can modify, remix or add to this image without further permission.

  • Commercial use

    You can use this image to make money.

  • Text adapted with permission from Te Papa and Digital NZ

Tāpirihia he kōrero anō -
Improve this record

  • Can you help us? Share names, details and stories to help enrich the collection.

    Contact contributor