Petrified wood (petrified wood)

Japanese: ケイ化木(珪化木) - けいかぼく（英語表記）petrified wood

A fossil of a tree trunk in which the contents of the cells are replaced with water-soluble silicic acid, and during the fossilization process, the silicic acid becomes insoluble, amorphous silicon dioxide SiO ₂ (the same component as agate and opal). The annual rings are often well preserved, and iron hydroxide (reddish brown) and other substances are injected in stripes along with the silicic acid, so they are often cut in various directions, the surface is polished, and the patterns of the annual rings and iron hydroxide are often used for decoration. In addition, the cell membrane is well preserved, so the approximate tree species can be identified by examining the prepared specimens (transverse, radial, and tangential sections) under a microscope.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

樹幹の化石で，細胞中の内容物と水溶性のケイ酸とが置きかえられ，化石化の途中で，ケイ酸が不溶性･非結晶質の二酸化ケイ素SiO₂(メノウやオパールと同じ成分)となったもの。年輪がよく保存されていることが多く，またケイ酸とともに水酸化鉄(赤褐色)などが縞状に注入されているため，いろいろな方向に切断し，表面を磨き，年輪や水酸化鉄による模様を装飾に利用することが多い。また細胞膜はよく保存されるので，そのプレパラート(横断･放射･接線断面)を顕微鏡でしらべることにより，おおよその樹種を識別することができる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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